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Appliqué Maker

Converter

EXP to DST converter

Turn a EXP file (Melco and Bernina machines) into DST (Tajima, Ricoma, Barudan, Happy and most commercial machines). Drop the file, pick DST as the output, download. Runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.

Drop an embroidery file or click to choose
PES, PEC, DST, EXP, JEF, VP3, XXX, HUS, VIP, SEW, PCS · stays on your device

What this conversion keeps and changes

EXP trims become DST jump sequences; colour changes map one to one. Both formats are relative-move formats, so geometry is preserved exactly.

Inside a EXP file

  • Read by: Melco and Bernina machines.
  • Colours: no colours at all, only stops between blocks, so the operator threads needles from a colour sheet.
  • Trims: explicit.
  • Longest stitch per record: 12.7 mm; anything longer is written as two.

Inside a DST file

  • Read by: Tajima, Ricoma, Barudan, Happy, SWF and most commercial machines.
  • Colours: no colours at all, only stops between blocks, so the operator threads needles from a colour sheet.
  • Trims: three consecutive jumps.
  • Longest stitch per record: 12.1 mm; anything longer is written as two.
  • DST stores stops, not colours: the operator threads the needles from a colour sheet.

When you need this conversion

Designs are sold in the format of the digitiser's software, and EXP is common because Melco and Bernina machines use it. If your machine is one of the Tajima, Ricoma, Barudan, Happy and most commercial models, it wants DST. The stitches are the same; only the container changes, and the notes above are the whole list of what the container cannot carry. Applique designs built in the studio can be downloaded in DST directly, without converting.

PES → DSTJEF → DST

How to use it

  1. 1

    Drop the EXP file

    Drag it onto the page or click to choose it. The file is decoded on your device and drawn on a hoop grid with its size, stitch count and colour blocks.

  2. 2

    Choose DST

    Pick the output format. Rotate or mirror here if the placement needs it; centring on the origin is what most machines expect.

  3. 3

    Download

    The file is written and read back on your device before the download starts.

  4. 4

    Copy the colours over

    DST stores no colours, so print the colour sheet from the viewer and set the needles from it on the machine.

Questions

What changes when converting EXP to DST?

EXP trims become DST jump sequences; colour changes map one to one. Both formats are relative-move formats, so geometry is preserved exactly.

Which machines read DST?

Tajima, Ricoma, Barudan, Happy, SWF and most commercial machines. DST stores stops, not colours: the operator threads the needles from a colour sheet.

Will the DST file stitch identically?

Yes for geometry: every needle position is kept to 0.1 mm. Colour and trim behaviour follow the target format's capabilities, described on this page.

Is the file uploaded?

No. Reading and writing happen in your browser; close the tab and nothing remains.

Does this work on applique designs?

Yes; placement, tack-down and satin blocks convert like any other stitches. If you need the cut file for an applique design you already own, use the cut-file tool after converting.

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