PES vs DST vs JEF: which embroidery file do you need?
They hold the same stitches. What differs is which machines read them and whether the colours travel with the file.
| Format | Machines | Colours in the file | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PES | Brother, Babylock (and Bernina, Janome by import) | Yes, as Brother threads | The home-machine standard; holds a preview image |
| DST | Tajima and almost every commercial machine (Ricoma, Barudan, SWF, Happy) | No | Stitches only; the operator sets the threads by hand |
| JEF | Janome, Elna, Kenmore | Yes, as Janome threads | Janome's own format |
Which to choose
- A Brother SE600, PE800, NQ or PR series, or a Babylock: PES.
- A Janome: JEF.
- A commercial multi-needle machine, or a shop that asks for "the DST": DST, with the thread list sent alongside.
Converting between them keeps every stitch; going to DST drops the colour names, which is why the thread list matters.
A PES or JEF made here carries its threads; a DST comes with the list on the page and in the PDF worksheet.