Convert PNG to PES embroidery files
PNG is the best raster format to digitize from: edges stay sharp, colors stay flat and transparent backgrounds come through intact. Download a Brother PES file for Brother, Baby Lock machines.
Drop your PNG here
PNG, JPG, WebP or SVG · stays on your device
- Free, no signup
- Thread colors stored in file
- Runs in your browser
Transparency is removed for you
A transparent background is detected and left unstitched, so only the artwork is sewn.
Flat colors separate cleanly
PNG doesn't add compression noise, so each color in your artwork becomes one thread color.
Resolution matters
Export at least 1,000 px across. Small PNGs are enlarged and smoothed, but fine details may merge.
How to convert a PNG to PES
It takes about a minute, and you can preview every stitch before you download.
- 1
Upload your PNG
Drop the .png file into the box above or open the digitizer.
- 2
Set the size
Type a width, or pick your hoop from 4×4" to 8×12". The proportions are kept.
- 3
Check colors and stitches
Review the thread colors, the stitch preview and the design check. Switch off any color you don't want stitched.
- 4
Download the .PES file
Choose Brother or the PES format and download. Copy the file to your machine by USB or its app.
The Brother PES format
PES is the format Brother's embroidery machines and PE-Design use. Baby Lock machines are built on the same platform and read PES too.
Files are written as PES version 6. That includes your thread colors and names for software, plus the PEC block with the Brother palette colors and thumbnails your machine shows on screen.
Colors are matched to the 64-color Brother thread chart, so the machine screen shows close equivalents of your design colors.
Tips for the best result
- Export logos from your design tool as PNG with a transparent background.
- Remove drop shadows, glows and gradients first: thread can't blend colors.
- Thin lines should be at least 0.5 mm wide at the final size, or they become a running stitch.
More detail in our guide to preparing artwork for embroidery.
PNG to PES converter questions
The quickest way to see what it does with your artwork is to try it. It's free and takes about a minute.
Does a transparent PNG work?
Yes. Transparent areas are treated as background and never stitched. Background-colored shapes inside the design are listed as their own color so you can decide whether to stitch them.
What resolution should my PNG be?
Around 1,000 to 2,000 pixels across is ideal. Larger files are scaled down for analysis, and very small ones are enlarged and smoothed.
Will my Brother machine show the right colors?
Yes. Each design color is matched to the nearest color in the Brother thread chart, and those colors are what the machine displays. You can pick a different thread for any color before downloading.
How do I put the PES file on my machine?
Copy the .pes file to a USB stick (or transfer it with Brother's app or software), insert it into the machine and choose it from the embroidery menu.
Is this embroidery digitizer really free?
Yes. You can digitize and download as many designs as you like, in every format, without signing up. Everything runs in your browser, so there are no server costs to pass on.
Is my image uploaded to a server?
No. Your image is processed entirely on your own device in your web browser and is never uploaded. If you sign in and save a design, only the finished stitch file, a small preview and its thread colors are stored in your account, never the original image.
Keep going
Related tools and guides
- Machine guideBrother machinesPES files for Brother embroidery machines, with Brother thread colors, hoop sizes and transfer options.Open
- Machine guideBaby Lock machinesPES files for Baby Lock embroidery machines, with transfer, hoop size and color tips.Open
- Free toolHoop size calculatorFind which hoops fit your design and how far to scale it down if it's too big.Open
- Free toolText to embroidery fileType a name or monogram, pick a font and download a ready-to-sew lettering file.Open
- Free toolStitch count & price calculatorEstimate stitches, sew time and price for any design size and coverage.Open
Make your PES file now
Upload an image, preview the stitches and download a Brother PES file in under a minute.