Convert JEF to EXP
Open a .jef embroidery file and download it as Melco EXP for Melco, Bernina 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 EXP
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
EXP has no colors, so keep the color sheet for threading.
- 4
Download the .exp file
Downloads are included in every plan. Copy the file to your Melco machine by USB stick or its transfer app.
JEF vs EXP
| Property | .JEF | .EXP |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Janome | Melco |
| Machines | Janome, Elna | Melco, Bernina |
| Thread colors | Stored in file | Not stored |
| Mostly used by | Janome and Elna home machines | Melco commercial and Bernina home machines |
EXP comes from Melco's commercial machines and is one of the formats Bernina embroidery machines read directly.
What changes when you convert
Every stitch is kept
Needle positions carry over exactly: both JEF and EXP store them in 0.1 mm steps. Moves longer than EXP allows are split automatically.
Colors become a color sheet
EXP 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 EXP
Make a EXP from an image
JEF to EXP 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 EXP lossless?
The stitches are. Every needle position is copied exactly. Thread colors can't be stored in EXP, so they go into the color sheet.
Will my Melco machine read the converted file?
Yes, if it reads EXP. The file is written to the Melco EXP specification and checked against independent readers. Most Melco machines read EXP; 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 EXP 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 guideBernina machinesEXP files for Bernina embroidery machines, with tips on colors, USB and WiFi transfer and hoops.Open
- Machine guideMelco machinesEXP and DST files for Melco commercial machines, with software, needle and field 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 EXP at exactly the size you need.