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Open a DST file

Drag files anywhere in this window, or pick them from your computer. Everything is read in your browser — nothing is uploaded.

DST · PES · PEC · JEF · EXP · VP3 · HUS · XXX · U01
colour files: COL · EDR · INF · or drop an SVG to digitize

How it works, supported formats & FAQ ↓

Fern wreath embroidery stitch preview showing 5 colour blocks — **Fern wreath · stitch simulation**10,478 stitches · 5 colour blocks · 78.6 × 79.2 mm

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SVG to stitches

Digitizing works from the vector outlines in your SVG, so edges come out exactly as drawn. A stroked path becomes a satin column of that path's own width; a filled shape gets underlay, angled fill rows and a sealed edge; narrow filled shapes — outlined lettering — are found and satined across the stroke. Export from Illustrator, Figma, Inkscape or Affinity with text converted to outlines.

Artwork nothing loaded

Drop an .svg file here.

vector only — PNG and JPEG are not digitized

Stitch settings

Design width—

Fill / satin density0.42 mm

Max stitch length3.2 mm

Underlay under fills and wide satin Group same colours together (fewer thread changes)

Advanced

Fill angle

Satin up to9.0 mm

Running stitch below0.9 mm

Smallest shape1.0 mm²

Pull compensation0.12 mm

Seal fill edges with an outline run

Load an SVG to start.

What is a DST file?

DST (Data Stitch Tajima) is the most widely supported embroidery format. Commercial multi-needle machines from Tajima, Ricoma, SWF, Happy, Barudan, Melco and others read it, and most digitizing programs export it.

A DST file stores the needle path as a list of small moves in 0.1 mm steps, plus jump, trim and colour-change commands. It has a 512-byte text header with the design name, stitch count and extents.

DST does not store thread colours. It only records where the machine stops to change colour. That is why a DST file opens in arbitrary colours in every viewer. If you have the matching .COL, .EDR or .INF colour file, drop it in together with the DST and EmbroViewer will apply the real colours. You can also set each colour by hand.

How to open a DST file online

Scroll up and click Open files, or drag your .dst file anywhere onto the page.

The design appears instantly. Zoom with the mouse wheel, drag to pan, press Space to play the sew-out.

Choose your hoop from the hoop menu to check the fit, and open Stats for stitch count, size, colours and run time.

Save a PNG preview or the thread list if you need to share it.

What you can check

Exact design width and height in mm or inches, and whether it fits a 4″×4″, 5″×7″, 6″×10″ or larger hoop

Stitch count, colour changes, jumps, trims, stitch density and thread length

Estimated sewing time

Thread colours and the stitch order, with stitch-by-stitch playback

Machines: Tajima, Ricoma, SWF, Happy, Barudan, Melco, Brother PR-series and most other commercial machines.

Match a DST design to its colour sheet

DST records the sewing path and colour-change stops, rather than thread RGB values. The preview's initial colours are placeholders. Use a matching COL, EDR or INF colour file or set each colour block from the designer's colour sheet. Playback then shows where each change occurs.

Frequently asked questions

Why are the colours wrong when I open a DST file?

DST files contain colour-change stops but no colour values. Load the matching COL, EDR or INF file alongside it, or click a colour in the thread list to set it yourself.

How do I check how many stitches a DST file has?

Open it in EmbroViewer. The Stats panel shows total stitches, colour changes, jumps, trims, size, thread length and an estimated sewing time.

Can I make a DST file from my logo?

Yes, if your logo is an SVG. Use the SVG to DST converter to digitize it into stitches and save a DST file.

Is DST a good format to send to an embroidery shop?

Yes. DST is the format most commercial shops ask for, because almost every machine can run it. Send a colour sheet or PNG preview with it, since the file has no colours.

DST file viewer