Open .dst Embroidery Files Online
Drop a design, see the stitches and the size, save a picture.
Machine embroidery designs: .pes, .pec, .dst and .exp. Nothing is uploaded.
What a DST file is
A .dst file is a machine embroidery design in the Tajima format, which is very common on industrial and commercial machines. It stores stitches as moves of the needle, plus commands for colour changes and trims. It does not store thread colours or the names of the threads. Because it is so widely supported, many designers deliver or sell designs as DST.
How to open it on Windows and Mac
- Embroidery software opens it: Wilcom, Embrilliance, Hatch and similar programs, on Windows and on Mac depending on the program.
- Ink/Stitch, a free extension for Inkscape, reads embroidery files too.
- Neither Windows nor macOS has a built-in viewer for DST. Photos and Preview cannot show it.
- To see the design without any software, drop the file on this page.
When the free web viewer is enough
- You want to check a design before it goes to a machine, a customer or a shop.
- The page draws the stitches and shows the size and the stitch count. The colours it uses only tell the colour changes apart, because DST has no thread colours.
- You want a PNG with a transparent or white background for a listing or a quote.
- The file is read in your browser and never uploaded. It also reads .exp, .pes and .pec files.
When it is not enough
The page only reads the file. It does not change the design, resize it, convert it for a machine or save an embroidery file. To edit stitches, set real thread colours, change the size or send the design to a machine, use your embroidery software. It also knows your hoop and fabric. There is no LCTR Store app for embroidery files, so this page does not link one. Use it to look at the stitches and to share a picture of the design.
Tip before you stitch
Check the size and the stitch count against your hoop before you load a design. Because DST has no thread colours, keep a note of the colour order that came with the design, or you will need to guess it at the machine.
Save a .dst design as a picture
Open the design, choose a transparent or white background and press Save as PNG. Handy for listings, quotes and sharing a design without the file.
Private: nothing is uploaded
The design is read inside your browser. It is never sent to a server, so bought designs stay on your device.
Questions
How do I open a .dst file without embroidery software?
Drop it on this page. The design is drawn as stitches, with its size and stitch count.
Why are the colours not the real thread colours?
DST files do not store thread colours. The colours shown only tell the colour changes apart.
Can I convert a .dst file to PNG?
Yes. Open it here and press Save as PNG. The background can be transparent or white.
Is my design uploaded?
No. It is read in your browser and never leaves your device.
Which files does it open?
.dst, .exp, .pes and .pec.
Brother, Janome and other machine names belong to their owners and are not affiliated with LCTR. Formats are named only to say which files this opens.