What is the DGT file format?
.dgt files are thumbnail preview images automatically generated alongside .dst embroidery design files by embroidery digitizing software. When a .dst file is created or saved, many applications write a matching .dgt file in the same directory, giving embroidery programs and file browsers a small raster preview of the stitch design without loading the full design file.
The format is essentially a standard BMP bitmap - some .dgt files are plain .bmp images renamed with a different extension. They use binary encoding with little-endian byte order, 8-bit indexed or 24-bit RGB color, and are typically uncompressed. File sizes stay small, usually under 200 KB, since the preview is kept at thumbnail dimensions (often around 200×200 pixels).
A second, much rarer meaning exists: the defunct Interscape "Digital Gallery" application also used .dgt for a raster image format. That software is no longer available and virtually no users remain today. The overwhelming majority of .dgt files encountered in practice are embroidery thumbnails.
Because .dgt files are BMP-compatible, any image viewer with BMP support - including IrfanView, XnView MP, or Microsoft Paint - can open them. GIMP and Apple Preview may also open them if their BMP codecs recognize the file.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWDGT is a passive thumbnail image file - no executable code. Opening one is safe. If you receive an unexpected .dgt file outside of an embroidery design context, scan it; otherwise it is benign.
Format details
in a nutshell- Digital Gallery file (Interscape) - Raster image format created by Digital Gallery, an obsolete web photo gallery application by Interscape; software is abandoned and no longer downloadable.
Programs that open DGT files
Windows3 apps
Microsoft Paint
Built-in Drag the .dgt file onto Paint - if it is a standard BMP, Paint will open it. 
IrfanView
Free Free image viewer; open the .dgt file - if it is a BMP-based thumbnail, IrfanView will display it directly. 
XnView MP
Freemium Free image viewer with broad format support; open the .dgt file to view thumbnail. 
macOS1 app
Apple Preview
Built-in Open the .dgt file in Preview - if it is a standard bitmap, Preview will display it. 
Linux1 app
Technical details
deep spec| Format type | Bitmap thumbnail (raster preview image) |
| Container | BMP-compatible binary bitmap |
| Encoding | Binary, uncompressed pixel data |
| Byte order | Little-endian (consistent with BMP format) |
| Color depth | 8-bit indexed or 24-bit RGB |
| Typical dimensions | ~200×200 px (software-dependent; always small thumbnail) |
| Typical file size | 5 KB - 200 KB |
| Compression | None (uncompressed bitmap pixels) |
| Generation | Auto-created alongside a paired .dst embroidery file by digitizing software |
| Directory relationship | Stored in the same directory as the parent .dst file |
| Platform | Windows (primarily; where embroidery software runs) |
| MIME type | image/bmp |
| Released | unknown (associated with embroidery digitizing software era) |
| Latest version | N/A - proprietary thumbnail format, no version documentation |
DGT conversions
Community Q&A
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