Brother embroidery machines read PES files. The free digitizer turns a PNG, JPG or SVG into a PES file in your browser, with each color matched to the 64-color Brother thread chart, so the machine screen shows the design in close-to-real colors.
There's no software to install and no signup, and your image is never uploaded. Start a PES file now, or read on for transfer options, hoop sizes and settings that suit Brother machines.
Which file format Brother machines use
PES is the format of Brother's PE-Design software and of its home and multi-needle embroidery machines. A PES file holds the stitches and the thread colors, plus a PEC block with Brother palette colors and the small thumbnail you see on the machine screen. The digitizer writes PES version 6.
Many Brother models also read DST, and some list PHC, another Brother format. DST works, but it carries no colors, so the screen shows default colors and you set the thread order from the color sheet. Use PES when you can.
Very old Brother machines may not read newer PES versions. If yours doesn't show the file, try the PEC or DST file from the ZIP download.
How to get a PES file onto your Brother machine
- Download the .pes file from the digitizer.
- Copy it to a USB flash drive. A small stick formatted as FAT32 is the safest choice, especially for older machines.
- Insert the stick into the machine's USB port and open it from the embroidery screen.
- Select the design, check that it fits the attached hoop, and start stitching.
Wireless models have more options. Brother's free Artspira app sends designs to compatible machines with Bluetooth or wireless LAN. Design Database Transfer, a free Windows app, sends files from your computer to wireless LAN models such as the Luminaire XP series, and PE-Design 11 can send designs over the network too. Check Brother's compatibility list for your model before relying on wireless transfer.
Brother hoop sizes and embroidery fields
Your machine's largest field decides the largest design you can sew in one hooping. A few well-documented examples:
| Model | Type | Maximum field |
|---|---|---|
| SE600 / SE630 | Sewing and embroidery | 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) |
| PE800 | Embroidery only | 5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm) |
| NQ1700E | Embroidery only | 6 × 10 in (160 × 260 mm) |
| Luminaire Innov-is XP3 | Sewing and embroidery | 10-5/8 × 16 in (272 × 408 mm) |
| PR1055X | 10-needle | 14 × 8 in (360 × 200 mm) |
The digitizer's 4×4, 5×7 and 6×10 presets match Brother's common hoops. For other sizes, type the width and check the result with the hoop size calculator.
Tips for better results on Brother machines
- Use the Brother thread chart. It is the PES and PEC palette, so the colors on screen match the threads the file names. Compare shades in the thread color chart.
- Keep colors few on single-needle models. Every color change stops the machine for rethreading. Merge near-identical shades before you download.
- Pick the fabric preset. It sets density, underlay and pull compensation for woven, knit, stretch, fleece or leather.
- Set the size in the digitizer. Resizing a stitch file on the machine can change its density, so for big changes, set the new size and download again.
- Test on scrap first, with the same fabric and stabilizer as the final piece.
On a Brother multi-needle such as the PR series, colors are assigned to needles at the machine. The TXT color sheet lists each color in sewing order with its stitch count, which makes setting up the needles quicker.
Convert other embroidery formats to PES
Got a design in another machine's format? Convert it in your browser. The stitches are copied exactly and each color is matched to a Brother thread:
- DST to PES for designs from commercial machines and shops
- JEF to PES for Janome designs
- VP3 to PES for Husqvarna Viking and Pfaff designs
- EXP to PES and XXX to PES for Bernina, Melco and Singer designs
To start from artwork instead, use PNG to PES or image to PES.