.EXP file format
EXP embroidery files
Melco expanded format, used by Bernina and Melco
EXP is the Melco "expanded" format, read natively by Melco commercial machines and by Bernina home machines. It's about as simple as a stitch file gets: no header, just a pair of signed bytes for each move (up to 12.7 mm), with escape codes for jumps and colour changes. Like DST it carries no thread colours. Bernina's software saves companion files with colours and a preview image next to the EXP, but the machine sews from the EXP alone.
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Machine files:.PES.DST.JEF.EXP
EXP at a glance
| Created by | Melco |
|---|---|
| Read by | Bernina home machines, Melco commercial machines |
| Thread colours stored | No (Bernina keeps colours in a separate .INF file) |
| Stitch precision | 0.1 mm |
| Longest single move | 12.7 mm; longer moves are split automatically |
| Also in the file | Nothing: no header at all |
What the EXP format stores
An EXP file has no header: it starts with the first stitch. Every move is a pair of signed bytes, the horizontal and vertical distance in 0.1 mm units. Jumps and colour changes are marked with escape codes in the same stream.
Because there's nowhere to put them, EXP has no thread colours, design name or preview. Bernina's software solves that with companion files next to the EXP: an .INF with the thread colours and a .BMP picture for the machine screen.
Limits of the EXP format
- No thread colours. The machine shows default colours; follow the colour list that came with the design.
- 12.7 mm per move. Longer moves become several jumps; the hoop, not the file, limits the size.
- No preview or name inside. Give the file a short, clear name so you can find it on the machine.
- Resizing stretches stitches. Re-export at the new size rather than scaling by more than 10–20%.
Machines that read EXP
These brands read EXP files. Open a brand to see its hoop sizes and how to transfer the design.
Tips for converting a picture to EXP
- On a Bernina, size the design for your hoop (Medium, Large oval, Maxi …); the Mega, Maxi and Jumbo hoops need the larger embroidery modules.
- Print or keep the production sheet: it's the only place the thread colours are recorded.
- Keep capitals at least 6 mm tall and lines at least 1 mm wide.
- On a Melco, use whichever of EXP or DST your workflow already uses; the stitches are identical.
Convert to EXP from
EXP questions
Why does my Bernina show different colours from my design?
EXP stores colour stops but not colours. Bernina's .INF companion file normally adds them, so a standalone EXP shows default colours. The stitches are unaffected: thread each stop from your colour list.
Is EXP lower quality than other formats?
No. EXP stores the needle positions in the same 0.1 mm units as PES, DST and JEF, so the same design sews the same stitches. It simply carries less extra information.