Convert embroidery files between formats on a Mac
Revision v1 · Satinsmith 1.1.0 (10) · Free; export allowance applies. Converting many files at once needs Studio

Two original PES designs (a leaf and a star), a step sheet and reuse permission.

The PES practice files open in compatible Windows embroidery software, which has its own conversion tools. The Satinsmith controls above require an Apple-silicon Mac with macOS 14 or later. No Windows app release date is promised.

1. Open the design
Download the files below and unzip them. Add the Samples folder to the Satinsmith library, or choose File → Open…, then double-click Leaf.pes. Converting never changes this original file.

2. Open the export sheet
Choose File → Export Machine File… (⇧⌘E). Under Format, choose the format your machine reads; its manual lists them, and the format guides show which machines commonly use which format. For this lesson, choose Tajima DST.

3. Read the compatibility report
Before exporting, read the report. For DST it says thread colors are not saved and the machine will show its own defaults. Other formats can report long stitches split to the format's limit, trims or stops the format cannot store, or colors matched to a machine's fixed palette. Set Check hoop to your hoop; the leaf fits 100 × 100 mm.

4. Export
Tick “I have reviewed the compatibility and design warnings”, choose Export… and save into the Samples folder so the library picks up the new file. On the Free plan the sheet shows how many of this month's five exports are left.

5. Compare the result
Open the new Leaf.dst. Its shape and size match the PES; its color can differ because DST has no thread colors to keep.

6. Try a second format
Open Leaf.pes again and export it as Janome JEF. Compare its report with the DST report: JEF has no trim command, for example, so the report says what it dropped before anything is written.

7. Many files at once
With Studio or higher, select several designs in the library and choose Convert Selected Designs…. It writes to a folder you choose, keeps the originals, never replaces an existing file and reports on each one.

Leaf.dst and Leaf.jef appear beside the original Leaf.pes, each 32 × 48 mm with the same outline and vein. The DST shows the machine's default color because DST stores no thread colors. The original PES is unchanged. With Free access, each export uses one of this month's five.

No physical sew-out has been performed. These are educational samples.
Written lesson: https://satinsmith.tempore.net/learn/convert-formats/
