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Drag and drop any PNG, JPG, or SVG. Logos and solid artwork produce the best PES output.
AI-Powered PES Converter
Convert any image to a
PES embroidery file
Upload a PNG, JPG, or SVG and get a production-ready PES file for Brother and Babylock machines in under 60 seconds. Real AI digitizing — not auto-tracing.
PNG →JPG →SVG →.PES
4.8★ from 312 users
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Used in 40+ countries
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Ready in <60 seconds
How It Works
Image to PES in four steps
No embroidery software required. No PE-Design needed. Works on any device.
AI Digitizes
AI identifies regions, assigns stitch types, calculates density, and applies pull compensation.
Preview Stitches
Watch a real-time stitch simulation, colour by colour, before downloading.
Download PES
Get a proper PES file with colour data, stitch paths, and metadata. Load via USB and stitch.
Understanding PES
What is a PES file and why do Brother machines need it?
A PES file is an embroidery format developed by Brother Industries specifically for their embroidery machines. Unlike the universal DST format which only stores stitch coordinates, PES files include thread colour information, design metadata, and hoop size data. When you load a PES file into a Brother machine, it knows exactly which colours to use and in what order — no manual colour assignment needed.
PES is the native format for all Brother embroidery machines and is also read natively by Babylock machines (Babylock is manufactured by Brother). If you own a Brother PE800, PE535, SE600, SE1900, PR1050X, PR680W, or any Brother embroidery machine, PES is the format you want.
Why you cannot just rename a JPG to .pes
An image file stores pixels. A PES file stores stitch commands — needle positions, stitch types, colour changes, trim commands, and thread colour data. Converting an image to PES requires digitizing: analysing the image, breaking it into regions, assigning stitch types per region, generating fill paths with proper density and underlay, calculating pull compensation, and encoding all of this into the PES binary format.
Most tools that claim to convert images to PES either cannot do it at all (they only convert between existing embroidery formats) or use crude auto-tracing that produces unusable output. StitchFast performs real AI digitizing with tatami fill stitches, automatic underlay, pull compensation, and Madeira thread matching.
PES vs DST — which should you use?
If your machine is a Brother or Babylock, use PES. It includes colour data so your machine displays the correct thread colours on screen. If your machine is a Tajima, Barudan, SWF, or other commercial machine, use DST. StitchFast generates both formats (plus five more) from every single upload, so you never have to choose — download whichever your machine needs.
What You Get
Every PES file includes
No extra charges. Every feature included with every conversion.
AI Stitch Analysis
Fill, satin, and running stitches assigned per region. Angles optimised for coverage and minimal breaks.
Pull Compensation
Automatic edge overshoot so fill areas maintain their shape on fabric. Adjustable 0–1mm.
Madeira Thread Codes
Every colour matched to a real Madeira Rayon thread number. Embedded in PES colour data.
Stitch Simulation
Preview the design stitching out in real time before downloading. Catch issues before fabric.
Brother Colour Data
PES files include full thread colour information so your Brother machine displays the correct colours.
7 Formats Included
PES plus DST, JEF, EXP, VP3, HUS, and XXX from every upload. No extra cost.
Compatibility
Compatible Brother and Babylock machines
StitchFast PES files work on every Brother and Babylock embroidery machine, including: Brother PE800, PE535, PE550D, SE600, SE625, SE1900, SE2000, PR1050X, PR680W, NQ3600D, Innov-is V3, V5, V7, XV8500D, Stellaire XJ1, XJ2, Entrepreneur Pro PR670E, and all other models that accept PES files.
Babylock machines that read PES include: Pathfinder, Meridian, Solaris, Solaris 2, Altair, Altair 2, Valiant, Destiny II, Ellagante, and all compatible models.
If you also need DST, JEF, or other formats for different machines, StitchFast generates all 7 formats from every upload at no extra cost.
Reviews
What Brother owners are saying
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 312 users in over 40 countries.
★★★★★
PES files load straight into my Brother PE800 with no issues. Clean stitches, proper colour changes. The thread colours even show up correctly on the machine screen.
★★★★★
I was sceptical about AI digitizing but the PES output genuinely works on my Brother PR1050X. Clean stitches, proper colour changes, no thread breaks.
★★★★★
Replaced PE-Design completely for my logo work. StitchFast is faster, the PES files are clean, and I don't need to learn complicated software.
★★★★☆
Works great for logos and text on my Brother SE1900. Struggled a bit with a complex gradient photo, but for 90% of what I need it is perfect.
★★★★★
The unlimited plan is unbeatable. I digitize 20+ designs a week for my Etsy shop. Every PES file works perfectly on my Babylock Pathfinder.
★★★★★
The Madeira thread code matching saves me so much time. Upload a logo, get PES with correct colours already mapped. Brilliant for production work.
★★★★★
Getting PES, DST, JEF, and four other formats from one upload is massive. I supply files to customers with different machines — one conversion covers everyone.
★★★★★
Needed PES files for a rush order at 11pm on a Sunday. No digitizer available. StitchFast had them done in under a minute. Lifesaver.
★★★★★
The tatami fill quality is genuinely impressive. Clean coverage, no gaps. My Brother SE600 stitches them out perfectly every time.
★★★★★
Best value in embroidery digitizing. The 10-credit pack at £3.50 per design is less than half what I was paying my old digitizer for PES files.
FAQ
PES Converter Questions
Common questions about converting images to PES embroidery files.
PES is an embroidery file format developed by Brother Industries. It contains stitch commands, colour data, and design metadata that Brother and Babylock machines read to reproduce designs on fabric. Unlike DST, PES includes thread colour information.
Yes, but it requires real digitizing — not just a format swap. StitchFast uses AI to analyse your image, identify regions, assign stitch types, and generate a proper PES file with fill stitches, underlay, pull compensation, and Madeira thread colour data.
All Brother embroidery machines support PES, including the PE800, PE535, SE600, SE1900, PR1050X, PR680W, and all Entrepreneur Pro models. Babylock machines including the Pathfinder, Meridian, Solaris, and Altair also read PES natively.
PES includes thread colour information and design metadata. DST only contains stitch coordinates and colour stop commands. Brother machines prefer PES; Tajima and commercial machines prefer DST. StitchFast generates both from every upload.
Save the PES file to a USB flash drive and insert it into your machine's USB port. Navigate to the USB folder on screen, select your design, and load it. Some newer Brother machines also support wireless transfer.
PE-Design is Brother's official embroidery software costing several hundred pounds with a steep learning curve. StitchFast handles the majority of common digitizing jobs instantly at a fraction of the cost. For complex multi-layer designs with manual stitch editing, PE-Design offers more granular control.
Yes. StitchFast generates 7 formats from every upload: PES, DST, JEF, EXP, VP3, HUS, and XXX. Download whichever your machine needs. All included at no extra cost.
Single designs cost £4.99. Credit packs reduce the cost to as low as £3.50 per design. An unlimited plan is available at £29.99/month with no per-design charges. Credits never expire.
Case Studies
Brother machine owners using StitchFast
From Etsy sellers to bridal studios — real businesses generating PES files instantly.
Custom Pet Embroidery / Etsy Seller
Emma's Pet Portraits
A Bristol-based home embroiderer turned her single Brother PE800 into a £3,000/month Etsy business by using StitchFast to instantly digitize custom pet portrait artwork — eliminating the digitizing bottleneck entirely.
Read case study →
Wedding & Bridal Embroidery
Grace Bridal Embroidery
A luxury bridal embroiderer in Bath uses StitchFast to offer same-day bespoke monograms, wedding date stitching, and personalised veil embellishments — a service that previously required a 2-week lead time.
Read case study →
Personalised Gifts / Etsy Seller
Stitch & Gift
A Cardiff-based Etsy seller processing over 200 unique personalised embroidery orders per month uses StitchFast to generate custom PES files instantly — enabling one-day dispatch on every order.
Read case study →
Streetwear Fashion Brand
Urban Stitch
A London streetwear brand uses StitchFast's Unlimited plan to launch fresh embroidered designs every single week — a rapid-drop cadence that would have cost over £1,300 annually in manual digitizing fees.
Read case study →Blog & Resources
Guides, stories & industry insights
From PES file basics to scaling an embroidery business — everything you need to know.
Guides
DST vs PES vs JEF: Which Embroidery File Format Does Your Machine Need?
Read →
Guides
The Complete Beginner's Guide to Machine Embroidery Stitch Files in 2026
Read →
Quality
The Hidden Cost of Cheap Digitizing (And What It Does to Your Machine)
Read →
Stories
I Quit My Job to Embroider Full-Time — Here's How AI Digitizing Made It Possible
Read →
Business
How to Start an Embroidery Business from Home with Under £500 in 2026
Read →
Industry
Why AI Embroidery Digitizing Is Replacing Manual Digitizers in 2026
Read →
Business
10 Embroidery Business Ideas That Actually Make Money in 2026
Read →
Technical
Pull Compensation, Underlay, and Density: The Technical Guide to Perfect Stitch Files
Read →
Industry
Factory Embroidery: How Commercial Operations Use AI to Run 24/7 Production Lines
Read →
Growth
From Spare Bedroom to Factory Floor: Scaling an Embroidery Business in 12 Months
Read →
Guides
Polyester vs Rayon vs Cotton: Choosing the Right Embroidery Thread for Every Project
Read →
Case Study
ThreadWorks Uniforms — 800+ Logos Per Year at £3.50 Each
Read →
Case Study
Prestige School Uniforms — 165 Badges Digitized in One Week
Read →
Case Study
Patchwork Motorsport — 24-Hour Turnaround for Sponsor Patches
Read →
Case Study
The Grand Hotel Group — Consistent Branding Across 12 Properties
Read →← SCROLL FOR MORE →
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