What is a PES file?
A PES file (.pes) is the Brother PES machine embroidery format, used by Brother and Baby Lock machines. It stores the stitches, jumps, trims and color changes of a design together with its thread colors. You can't open it in an image editor: view it in an embroidery file viewer, load it on the machine by USB or Wi-Fi, or convert it to another format.
| File extension | .pes |
|---|---|
| Made by | Brother |
| Machines | Brother, Baby Lock |
| Thread colors | Stored in the file |
| Opens in | Embroidery machines and embroidery software or viewers |
What's inside a .pes file
- Every needle position, in order
- Jumps and trims between areas
- Where each color starts (color stops)
- Thread colors and names
- A PEC block with Brother palette colors and a thumbnail
- Hoop and design information for Brother software
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.
How to open and use a PES file
- 1
View it
Drop the .pes file into the file viewer to see the stitches, colors, size and stitch count in your browser.
- 2
Check it
Run it through the file checker for hoop fit, density and stitches that might snag or break.
- 3
Convert if needed
If your machine reads another format, save it as that format in the converter; every stitch is kept.
- 4
Load it
Copy the file to a USB stick or send it over Wi-Fi, then open it on the machine and sew a test.
Machines that read PES
PES is the native or a supported format on these machines, from the makers' specs.
- Brother machines
- Baby Lock machines
- Brother PE535
- Brother SE600
- Brother SE630
- Brother SE700
- Brother SE1900
- Brother SE2000
- Brother PE800
- Brother PE900
- Brother PR680W
- Baby Lock Alliance
- Baby Lock Aventura II
- Bernina 790 PRO
- Bernina 590
- Brother PE770
- Brother SE400
- Brother SE725
- Brother LB5000
- Brother PE545
- Brother NQ1700E
- Brother PR1055X
- Brother Luminaire XP3
- Baby Lock Meridian 2
- Baby Lock Journey
- Bernina 535
Free PES embroidery designs
Every free design downloads as PES with a free account.
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PES file questions
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What is a PES file?
A PES file (.pes) is the Brother PES machine embroidery format, used by Brother and Baby Lock machines. It stores the stitches, jumps, trims and color changes of a design together with its thread colors. You can't open it in an image editor: view it in an embroidery file viewer, load it on the machine by USB or Wi-Fi, or convert it to another format.
How do I open a PES file?
Open it in an embroidery file viewer: drop the .pes file into Embrizo's viewer to see every stitch, the colors and the size in your browser. Image editors and PDF readers can't open stitch files.
Does a PES file keep thread colors?
Yes. PES stores the thread colors, so a machine that reads it shows close equivalents on screen.
How do I convert a PES file?
Open it in the embroidery file converter and save it as DST, PES, JEF, EXP, VP3, XXX or another format. Converting keeps every stitch; only the container changes.
Can I make a PES file from a picture?
Yes. Upload a PNG, JPG or SVG to the Embrizo digitizer, check the stitch preview and save a PES file for your machine.
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.
Convert PES files
PES compared
Other formats
Embroidery file formats explainedNeed a PES file of your logo?
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