What is the EM file format?
An .em file is a proprietary binary template used by Adobe Encore, the DVD and Blu-ray disc authoring application bundled with Adobe Creative Suite. The file stores complete DVD menu configurations - background imagery based on Photoshop .psd layers, button layout data, audio loop references, timespan settings, and motion menu metadata - packaged into a single file that Encore loads into its Menu Editor.
Template files allow disc authors to design polished animated or static menus once and reuse them across multiple projects. Background graphics can include embedded PSD image data, while audio loops and video motion backgrounds are typically referenced externally. Menus target standard DVD resolutions (720×480 NTSC or 720×576 PAL) or Blu-ray at 1920×1080.
Adobe discontinued Encore after Creative Suite CS6 (2012). The software was never migrated to Creative Cloud, and the underlying authoring engine - licensed from Sonic Solutions (later acquired by Rovi) - was wound down, making continued development impractical. As a result, .em files are effectively a dead format: they can only be opened by an installed copy of Adobe Encore CS2 through CS6.
- There is no publicly documented file signature or specification for the
.emformat. - File size typically ranges from 500 KB to 50 MB depending on embedded imagery and referenced media.
- Alternative DVD authoring tools include DVDStyler (free, open source) and DVD Architect by Magix, though neither reads
.emtemplates.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWEM files are passive design templates with no executable content. Safe to archive. The practical issue is obsolescence: Encore is discontinued and the .em format has no active support path. Avoid downloading Encore from unofficial sources, as pirated CS6 installers may be bundled with malware.
Format details
in a nutshell- Emacs Lisp Bytecode File - GNU Emacs and other Emacs variants use .em or .elc for compiled Emacs Lisp bytecode; unrelated to Adobe.
- WINDEV / WebDev Mobile Module - PCSoft's WINDEV development environment uses .em for mobile module project files.
Programs that open EM files
Windows1 app
Adobe Encore CS6 (discontinued)
Paid Open the .em in Encore via the Templates panel or Library panel. Encore CS6 is the last version; no longer available for download from Adobe. EOL circa 2013-2016. 
macOS1 app
Adobe Encore CS6 (discontinued)
Paid Last version is CS6; not compatible with modern macOS versions (dropped 32-bit support). Effectively non-functional on macOS Catalina (2019) and later. Technical details
deep spec| Container | Proprietary Adobe Encore binary (may wrap embedded Photoshop PSD layer data) |
| Encoding | Binary |
| Byte order | Little-endian |
| Typical file size | 500 KB - 50 MB |
| NTSC menu resolution | 720×480 pixels |
| PAL menu resolution | 720×576 pixels |
| Blu-ray menu resolution | 1920×1080 pixels |
| Color depth | Up to 32 bpp (Encore/Photoshop menu backgrounds) |
| Audio handling | Referenced audio loop clips - not embedded in the .em file itself |
| Compatible versions | Adobe Encore CS2 through CS6 (2003-2012) |
| File signature | No publicly documented magic bytes |
| Associated OS | Windows, macOS |
| Format status | Discontinued - Encore was not carried into Creative Cloud; CS6 (2012) was the final release |
| Background graphics source | PSD-based Photoshop layer structure for menu backgrounds and button overlays |
| Released | 2003 (Adobe Encore DVD 1.0) |
| Latest version | Adobe Encore CS6 era (2012); Encore EOL ~2013-2016 |
EM conversions
Community Q&A
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