.DST file format
DST embroidery files
Tajima format for commercial embroidery
DST comes from Tajima and is the common language of commercial embroidery: Ricoma, Happy, Barudan, SWF, ZSK and most multi-needle machines read it. It records needle positions and colour stops but no thread colours, and trims are written as short jump sequences that the machine is set to cut on. A single move can't exceed 12.1 mm, so longer moves are split into several jumps automatically. Your download includes a production sheet that lists each colour stop with the nearest Brother and Janome thread.
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Machine files:.PES.DST.JEF.EXP
DST at a glance
| Created by | Tajima |
|---|---|
| Read by | Tajima, Ricoma, Happy, Barudan, SWF, ZSK and most multi-needle machines; nearly every embroidery program |
| Thread colours stored | No, only colour stops |
| Stitch precision | 0.1 mm |
| Longest single move | 12.1 mm in each direction; longer moves become several jumps |
| Also in the file | 512-byte text header: design label, stitch count, colour-change count and extents |
What the DST format stores
A DST file starts with a 512-byte text header (the design label, stitch count, colour-change count and the design's extents) followed by 3 bytes per stitch. Each stitch is a move in 0.1 mm units, flagged as a normal stitch, a jump or a colour stop.
What's missing is just as important: DST says that a colour change happens but not which colour, and it has no trim command of its own. Both are handled on the machine.
Limits of the DST format
- No thread colours. Keep the colour list next to the machine and assign needles per stop.
- Trims are jump sequences. If the machine's trim setting doesn't match, you get long connecting threads instead of cuts.
- 12.1 mm per move. Longer moves are split into several jumps automatically; it doesn't limit the design size.
- Resizing stretches stitches. Change the size in the source and export again rather than scaling the DST by more than 10–20%.
Machines that read DST
These brands read DST files. Open a brand to see its hoop sizes and how to transfer the design.
Tips for converting a picture to DST
- Set the final size first, and check the trim count in the preview: every trim costs time on the machine.
- Fewer colours mean fewer stops: three to six usually cover a logo.
- Keep the production sheet from the ZIP with the job, so whoever runs the machine knows the needle order.
- For caps, keep the design about 50–60 mm tall and up to 110–130 mm wide.
Convert to DST from
DST questions
Is DST lower quality than PES?
No. Both store needle positions in 0.1 mm units, so the stitches are equally precise. DST just doesn't carry thread colours, and its trims are written as jump sequences that the machine has to recognise.
Can home machines read DST?
Many can: Brother and Janome machines, for example, load DST files. You lose the on-screen colours, so use the brand's own format (PES or JEF) when your machine has one.
Why is DST so widely used?
It's simple, it's been around for decades, and Tajima's position in commercial embroidery made it the format every other maker and program learned to read. That makes it the safest fallback when you're unsure what a machine accepts.