Why convert EXP to PES?
Brother and Babylock machines do not read the Melco .exp format; PES is their native stitch format. If you have a design in EXP, converting to PES is the necessary step to load it on those machines.
How to convert EXP to PES
Embird Embroidery Software APP
Open the .exp in Embird, go to File > Save As, pick PES, and select the correct PES version for your machine.
SewWhat-Pro APP
Open the .exp in SewWhat-Pro and use File > Save As, selecting PES from the format list.
Programs that convert EXP
About these formats
.EXP
Melco Embroidery Design
An EXP file is a machine-embroidery design in the native Melco stitch format, also used in the Bernina ecosystem. To view or convert it, use the free Wilcom TrueSizer (desktop or web). To…
Open .EXP details →
.PES
Brother/Babylock PES Embroidery File
A PES file is a machine-embroidery design created by Brother's PE-Design software, used on Brother, Babylock, and some Bernina machines. To preview one free, open it in Wilcom TrueSizer…
Open .PES details →Quality & what to watch
- Thread colors are not stored in the
.expfile; after converting to PES, the file will show generic colors - reassign threads in software or at the machine before stitching. - PES has multiple versions (v1 through v10+); older Brother machines need lower versions - Embird lets you pick the version explicitly, while TrueSizer defaults to a broadly compatible one.
- Converting between stitch formats is a coordinate remapping, not a pixel resize; if you also resize the design, use software that recalculates stitch density to avoid gaps or thread bunching.
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert `.exp` to `.pes` without installing software?
Which PES version does my Brother machine need?
Why are colors wrong after converting?
.exp stores no thread color data; you must reassign colors in the conversion software or at the machine.
