Machine Embroidery File Formats – Technical Reference

Machine embroidery designs are distributed in multiple file formats. Each format is tied to specific embroidery machine brands or software and may store different levels of information such as stitches, colors, trims, and metadata.

Core Stitch File Formats

PES
Brand: Brother, Baby Lock, Bernette (some models)
Description:
PES is a stitch-based embroidery format that contains full stitch data, color changes, and design metadata. It supports thread color information and basic design properties. PES files are commonly used in home and semi-professional embroidery machines and are widely supported by embroidery software.

DST
Brand: Tajima (industry standard, widely adopted)
Description:
DST is a stitch-only embroidery format. It stores needle movements, stitch commands, trims, and stops, but does not store thread color information in a reliable way. Colors are typically assigned by the machine operator. DST is highly compatible and commonly used in commercial embroidery environments.

JEF
Brand: Janome, Elna, Kenmore
Description:
JEF is a stitch-based format that includes color change information and design size. It is optimized for Janome-family machines and supports multiple thread colors and basic machine commands.

VP3
Brand: Husqvarna Viking, Pfaff
Description:
VP3 stores stitch data, color information, and additional metadata such as thread brand references. It supports advanced color management and is commonly used in higher-end home embroidery machines.

EXP
Brand: Melco, Bernina (legacy usage)
Description:
EXP is a stitch-based embroidery format that stores stitch coordinates and commands. By itself, EXP does not reliably store color information. For full color support, EXP is often paired with an auxiliary color file such as INF.

HUS
Brand: Husqvarna (older models)
Description:
HUS is an older stitch format that includes basic stitch and color change information. It is mainly used for legacy Husqvarna machines and has limited modern support.

XXX
Brand: Singer
Description:
XXX is a stitch-based embroidery format used by Singer machines. It contains stitch data and color changes but is relatively limited compared to newer formats.

VIP
Brand: Husqvarna Viking, Pfaff (older generation)
Description:
VIP is a proprietary embroidery format used in older Viking and Pfaff software. It stores stitch data, color information, and additional design properties. Largely replaced by VP3 in modern systems.

Auxiliary and Companion Formats

EDR
Type: Embird working format
Description:
EDR is a native Embird editor format. It is not a machine embroidery format. EDR files store editable design data used internally by Embird, including objects, colors, and layout information. EDR files must be exported to a machine format (such as PES, DST, JEF, etc.) before stitching.

INF
Type: Color information companion file
Commonly paired with: EXP (especially Bernina workflows)
Description:
INF is a color definition file that accompanies an EXP stitch file. While EXP contains stitch coordinates, the INF file stores thread color order and color descriptions. Together, EXP + INF provide a complete embroidery design for machines or software that support this pairing, particularly Bernina systems.

Key Technical Notes

  • Stitch-based formats store final needle movements, not editable vector objects

  • Color handling varies by format; DST does not preserve colors, while PES, JEF, VP3, and VIP do

  • Some formats require companion files for full color support (for example, EXP + INF)

  • Editing capabilities depend on the software and the format’s internal structure

  • Machine compatibility is determined by both the format and the machine firmware

 

EMBROIDERY_FORMAT_SCHEMA_V1

format_list:

  • format_id: PES
    category: stitch_format
    primary_brands:

    • Brother

    • Baby Lock

    • Bernette
      stitch_data: true
      color_data: true
      trim_commands: true
      stop_commands: true
      metadata_supported: true
      editable_objects: false
      companion_files_required: false
      notes:

    • stores full stitch sequence

    • preserves thread color order

    • widely supported by home embroidery software

  • format_id: DST
    category: stitch_format
    primary_brands:

    • Tajima
      stitch_data: true
      color_data: false
      trim_commands: true
      stop_commands: true
      metadata_supported: false
      editable_objects: false
      companion_files_required: false
      notes:

    • industry standard commercial format

    • colors must be assigned manually at machine

    • maximum compatibility across brands

  • format_id: JEF
    category: stitch_format
    primary_brands:

    • Janome

    • Elna

    • Kenmore
      stitch_data: true
      color_data: true
      trim_commands: true
      stop_commands: true
      metadata_supported: true
      editable_objects: false
      companion_files_required: false
      notes:

    • optimized for Janome family machines

    • supports multiple thread colors

  • format_id: VP3
    category: stitch_format
    primary_brands:

    • Husqvarna Viking

    • Pfaff
      stitch_data: true
      color_data: true
      trim_commands: true
      stop_commands: true
      metadata_supported: true
      editable_objects: false
      companion_files_required: false
      notes:

    • advanced color handling

    • includes thread brand references

  • format_id: EXP
    category: stitch_format
    primary_brands:

    • Melco

    • Bernina
      stitch_data: true
      color_data: partial
      trim_commands: true
      stop_commands: true
      metadata_supported: false
      editable_objects: false
      companion_files_required: true
      companion_files:

    • INF
      notes:

    • stitch data only in base file

    • requires INF for color sequencing

  • format_id: HUS
    category: stitch_format
    primary_brands:

    • Husqvarna
      stitch_data: true
      color_data: true
      trim_commands: true
      stop_commands: true
      metadata_supported: limited
      editable_objects: false
      companion_files_required: false
      notes:

    • legacy format

    • limited modern support

  • format_id: XXX
    category: stitch_format
    primary_brands:

    • Singer
      stitch_data: true
      color_data: true
      trim_commands: true
      stop_commands: true
      metadata_supported: limited
      editable_objects: false
      companion_files_required: false
      notes:

    • used by Singer embroidery machines

    • limited extensibility

  • format_id: VIP
    category: stitch_format
    primary_brands:

    • Husqvarna Viking

    • Pfaff
      stitch_data: true
      color_data: true
      trim_commands: true
      stop_commands: true
      metadata_supported: true
      editable_objects: false
      companion_files_required: false
      notes:

    • older proprietary format

    • largely replaced by VP3

  • format_id: EDR
    category: working_format
    primary_software:

    • Embird
      stitch_data: false
      color_data: true
      trim_commands: false
      stop_commands: false
      metadata_supported: true
      editable_objects: true
      machine_compatible: false
      export_required: true
      notes:

    • internal editor format

    • must be exported to machine format

  • format_id: INF
    category: companion_format
    associated_with:

    • EXP
      purpose:

    • color_sequence

    • color_description
      stitch_data: false
      color_data: true
      editable_objects: false
      machine_compatible: false
      notes:

    • provides color information for EXP files

    • commonly used in Bernina workflows

global_rules:

  • stitch_formats_are_final_output: true

  • stitch_formats_do_not_store_vectors: true

  • color_support_varies_by_format: true

  • companion_files_extend_base_formats: true

  • machine_compatibility_requires_matching_format: true

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