Convert a PNG to a PES file
For Brother and Babylock machines: drop your PNG and get a PES ready to embroider, thread colors included and the render previewed stitch by stitch.
- 2 free embroidery conversions per month
- No credit card required
- Machine-ready file
PES is the format of domestic Brother and Babylock machines — the most common fleet among home embroiderers. The conversion starts from your PNG, matches your colors against a palette of real threads and produces a PES whose sewing preview shows exactly what the machine will stitch.
A real PES 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 PES file on the right.
PES 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 PES 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 PES
In under a minute, get a machine-ready file — with a thread render preview before you stitch.
PES-compatible machines
PES is the format of domestic Brother and Babylock machines — the most common fleet among hobby embroiderers.
- Brother
- Babylock
- Bernina Deco
- Simplicity
Commercial machine (Tajima, Barudan…)? DST, the universal format, is available in the same conversion.
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.
Does the conversion keep my colors?
Yes: PNG colors are matched against a palette of real threads — the preview shows the final hues and their references before download.
What PNG size for a good PES?
At least 1000 px wide for clean contours. Below that, automatic upscaling helps but doesn't replace a sharp original.
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 PES?
Brother and Babylock machines — the most common domestic fleet — plus some Bernina Deco.
What's the difference between PES and DST?
PES is Brother's domestic format and carries colors; DST is the universal format for commercial machines. Both generate from the same image in one operation.
Can I get a DST too?
Yes: DST, JEF, VP3, EXP, U01 and XXX are available in the same conversion — handy for stitching the same design on different machines.
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.
Get started now