Why convert PES to DST?
DST is accepted by most commercial and multi-brand embroidery machines and is frequently required by embroidery shops. Converting to .dst is the standard path when a PES design must run on non-Brother equipment or be submitted to a commercial shop. DST has no color storage, so broad machine compatibility comes at the cost of color metadata.
How to convert PES to DST
Wilcom TrueSizer FREE
Drag the .pes file into TrueSizer, verify the stitch count and design size in the preview, then go to File > Save As and choose DST.
Ink/Stitch OPEN-SOURCE
Install Inkscape and the Ink/Stitch extension, open the .pes file in Inkscape, then go to Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Export and select DST.
SewWhat-Pro APP
Open the .pes file and use File > Save As, selecting DST format. Note the color sequence shown before closing.
Embird Embroidery Software APP
Open the .pes file and use File > Save As, selecting DST. Embird shows the color stop list before saving - record it.
Programs that convert PES
About these formats
.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 →
.DST
Tajima Embroidery Stitch File
A DST file is a Tajima embroidery design - stitch coordinates and machine commands that tell a computerized embroidery machine how to sew a pattern. It is not an image. To preview one free,…
Open .DST details →Quality & what to watch
- DST has no native color storage - thread color data is lost during conversion; record the numbered color list from the source software before exporting.
- Stitch coordinates, jumps, trims, and color-change stop commands all transfer intact; the sewing path is fully preserved.
- PES version (v1-v11) does not affect DST output - the converter reads whichever PES version you have and writes a flat DST file.
