Convert a PNG to a DST file
Drop your PNG, get a DST embroidery file ready to stitch — density, underlay and fill angles calibrated for fabric, with a thread render preview before the machine runs.
- 2 free embroidery conversions per month
- No credit card required
- Machine-ready file
PNG is the king format for DST conversion: lossless compression, transparency handled, crisp contours. The needle trajectory still has to respect the physics of embroidery — that's the engine's job: quantize colors into real threads, clean noise, resolve the holes inside letters and fill every area with regular hatching.
A real DST 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 DST file on the right.
DST file
Source imageStitch 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 DST file above — precisely what your machine will read.
- 1
Drop your PNG
Drag your image 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 your DST
In under a minute, get a machine-ready file — with a thread render preview before you stitch.
DST-compatible machines
DST (the Tajima format) is the most universal embroidery format: the default choice when in doubt about the machine that will read the file.
- Tajima
- Barudan
- SWF
- Happy
- Virtually all commercial machines
Brother, Babylock or Janome machine? The conversion also outputs PES, JEF and VP3 — from the same image, in the same interface.
A PNG that embroiders well
PNG is the best possible source for embroidery: lossless compression, transparency preserved.
- Aim for at least 1000 px wide: below that, jagged edges become uneven stitches.
- Transparent backgrounds are handled automatically — no need to fill or cut out the image.
- Flatten gradients before converting: every extra color adds a thread change.
- A flat logo embroiders better than a photo: 4 to 8 colors is a good target.
- Clean up spots and unreadable text: the converter stitches everything it sees.
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.
How long does PNG → DST conversion take?
Under a minute for a typical logo or design. The result page shows the file sewing itself, then the DST download is immediate.
My PNG is only 200 px wide — is that a problem?
Small images are detected and upscaled automatically, but a PNG at least 1000 px wide always gives cleaner contours. Use the original whenever possible.
My PNG has a transparent background — how is that handled?
Transparency is preserved as-is: transparent areas are neither embroidered nor vectorized. No need to cut out the image before converting.
How many colors for a good result?
4 to 12 colors give the best fidelity-to-simplicity ratio. Beyond that, every shade adds a thread change in embroidery or dozens of paths in vector output.
Which machines read DST?
Tajima, Barudan, SWF, Happy… DST is read by virtually all commercial machines and most recent domestic ones: the format to pick when in doubt.
Does the DST file contain colors?
The DST format records color changes but not exact hues (a historical format limit). The Brode preview shows the chosen threads with their references, to guide bobbin setup.
Can I get a PES or JEF too?
Yes: the same conversion outputs PES (Brother/Babylock), JEF (Janome), VP3 (Husqvarna/Pfaff) and four other machine formats.
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.
Tools and guides
Stitch simulator
Drop any embroidery file and watch it sew stitch by stitch — free, no account.
Try the simulatorConverting a PNG to DST: the guide
Formats, stitch density, mistakes to avoid — the complete guide to embroidery conversion.
Read the guideEmbroidery formats by brand
DST, PES, JEF, VP3: which machine reads which format, brand by brand.
Read the guideOther conversions
PNG → PES, JPG → DST, image → embroidery… all the Brode converter pages.
See all conversionsAlready have an embroidery file?
DST to PES, PES to JEF… the embroidery format converter rewrites an existing file for another machine — free, no account.
Ready to vectorize your first image?
Create an account: 5 vectorizations and 2 embroidery conversions free every month. No credit card required.
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