Convert JEF to DST
Open a .jef embroidery file and download it as Tajima DST for Tajima, Barudan machines. Every stitch is kept, and the conversion runs in your browser.
Drop your .jef file here
DST, PES, JEF, EXP, VP3, XXX, PEC, U01, TBF · read in your browser, never uploaded
How to convert JEF to DST
Four steps, all in your browser.
- 1
Open your .jef file
Drop the JEF file into the converter above. It opens right in your browser for free.
- 2
Check the preview
Look over the stitch preview, size, stitch count and colors to confirm it's the right design.
- 3
Note the color order
DST has no colors, so keep the color sheet for threading.
- 4
Download the .dst file
Downloads are included in every plan. Copy the file to your Tajima machine by USB stick or its transfer app.
JEF vs DST
| Property | .JEF | .DST |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Janome | Tajima |
| Machines | Janome, Elna | Tajima, Barudan, SWF |
| Thread colors | Stored in file | Not stored |
| Mostly used by | Janome and Elna home machines | Commercial multi-needle machines |
DST was created by Tajima and became the common language of commercial embroidery. Nearly every multi-needle machine, and most embroidery software, can open it.
What changes when you convert
Every stitch is kept
Needle positions carry over exactly: both JEF and DST store them in 0.1 mm steps. Moves longer than DST allows are split automatically.
Colors become a color sheet
DST doesn't store thread colors, only where they change. Download the ZIP to get a color sheet with the thread order.
Jumps become trims
Every jump between sections is written as a trim and a jump, so loose threads are cut on machines with an automatic trimmer.
Convert JEF to other formats
Convert other formats to DST
Make a DST from an image
JEF to DST questions
The quickest way to see what it does with your artwork is to try it. With a free account, digitizing and previewing cost nothing and take about a minute.
Is converting JEF to DST lossless?
The stitches are. Every needle position is copied exactly. Thread colors can't be stored in DST, so they go into the color sheet.
Will my Tajima machine read the converted file?
Yes, if it reads DST. The file is written to the Tajima DST specification and checked against independent readers. Most Tajima machines read DST; your manual lists the exact formats.
Is the converter free?
Opening a JEF file and checking its stitches, colors and size is free. Downloading the DST file needs a paid plan, from $8 a month billed annually.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is opened and previewed entirely in your browser. When you download, only its stitch data is sent to create the converted file.
Can I resize the design while converting?
Not in the converter, which keeps the stitches exactly as they are. To change the size, digitize the original artwork again in the digitizer, since scaling stitch files changes their density.
Keep going
Related tools and guides
- Machine guideTajima machinesDST files for Tajima commercial machines, with needle setup, sewing fields and TBF notes.Open
- Free toolEmbroidery file viewerOpen DST, PES, JEF and more in your browser: stitch preview, colors, size and stitch count.Open
- Free toolHoop size calculatorFind which hoops fit your design and how far to scale it down if it's too big.Open
- Free toolThread color chart & matcherBrother and Janome thread charts with codes, plus a color matcher between brands.Open
- GuideEmbroidery file formats explainedWhich machines read which format, and which formats keep thread colors.Open
Have the original artwork?
Digitize it from scratch for a cleaner DST at exactly the size you need.