Image → embroidery file converter

Convert an image to embroidery

PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF, BMP or SVG: drop an image, get an embroidery file in your machine's format — with a preview that sews the design stitch by stitch before you run it.

2 free embroidery conversions per month
No credit card required
7 machine formats: DST, PES, JEF, VP3…

Convert my image

An embroidery machine doesn't "see" images: it executes a needle trajectory recorded in a DST, PES, JEF or VP3 file. Converting an image to embroidery ("digitizing") means turning pixels into zones filled with calibrated stitches — density that doesn't pierce the fabric, underlay that stabilizes, satin for letters and columns. That's what the Brode engine does, in under a minute.

Real output

A real embroidery file, stitch by stitch

Every example below is an actual conversion made by the Brode engine. Drag the handle: the source image on the left, the thread render of the downloaded machine file on the right.

Machine file

Source image

Tattoo

Subject

Threads

79,847

Stitches

Stitch render of the machine file generated by Brode — same densities, underlay and threads as the downloaded file.

Watch the file sew

The simulator replays the exact needle trajectory of the embroidery file file above — precisely what your machine will read.

1
Drop your image
PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF, BMP, TIFF or SVG: drag it into the conversion area. A free account is all you need — no credit card.
2
Pick a preset
Five cleanup presets (from faithful to minimal) tune colors and detail level. Machine settings — density, angle, underlay — are already calibrated.
3
Download in your machine's format
DST, PES, JEF, VP3, EXP, U01 or XXX — the exact format your machine reads, with a thread render preview.

One format per machine brand

Every manufacturer has its own file format. Brode outputs all seven common machine formats: convert once, download in your machine's format.

Format	Machines
DST	Tajima and most industrial machines — the universal exchange format
PES	Brother, Baby Lock, Bernina Deco
JEF	Janome, Elna, Kenmore
VP3	Pfaff, Husqvarna Viking
EXP	Melco, Bernina
U01	Barudan
XXX	Singer

An image that embroiders well

A few habits set up a successful conversion, whatever the starting image.

Logos and designs in solid colors embroider better than photos.
At least 1000 px wide; below that, automatic upscaling helps but doesn't replace a sharp original.
4 to 12 colors: every extra shade adds a thread change.
A design 8 to 12 cm across shows more detail than a tiny motif.
Always test on a fabric scrap before the final piece.

2 embroidery conversions per month, no credit card

Create a free account in 30 seconds: every month you get 2 embroidery conversions and 5 vectorizations — renewed automatically, no commitment.

Convert my image

≈ 1 minute per conversion — sewing preview included.

Which image formats are accepted as input?

PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF, BMP, TIFF and SVG. What matters for quality: sharpness, contrast and a reasonable color count (4 to 12).

Photos, logos, drawings — does everything convert?

Logos and designs in solid colors embroider best. Photos convert too — gradients are reduced to thread color blocks, at the cost of realism.

What image resolution should I aim for?

At least 1000 px wide for the design. Below that, automatic upscaling helps, but a sharp original remains the best guarantee.

Should I crop the image first?

Not required: the conversion works on the whole design. A tight crop on the subject just makes the final size easier to choose.

Does a photo convert well to embroidery?

Logos and designs in solid colors give the best results. Photos convert too: gradients are reduced to blocks of thread colors, at the cost of realism.

What design size should I aim for?

8 to 12 cm wide nearly always embroiders better than a tiny motif: below that, fine details disappear and letters fill in.

Do I need software to use the file?

No: copied to a USB stick, the file is read directly by the machine. Software is only for viewing or editing the design.

How does the free offer work?

A free account is enough, no credit card: every month, 5 vectorizations (SVG, PDF, EPS, DXF) and 2 embroidery conversions (DST, PES, JEF, VP3…), renewed automatically with no commitment.

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