Convert PNG to PES embroidery files

PNG is the best raster format to digitize from: edges stay sharp, colors stay flat and transparent backgrounds come through intact. Download a Brother PES file for Brother, Baby Lock machines.

Drop your PNG here

PNG, JPG, WebP or SVG · stays on your device

  • Free preview
  • Thread colors stored in file
  • Runs in your browser
The flower clip art digitized for a Brother PES file
Original flower clip art artwork
ArtworkEmbroidered
Step by step

How to convert a PNG to PES

It takes about a minute, and you can preview every stitch for free before you download.

  1. 1

    Upload your PNG

    Drop the .png file into the box above or open the digitizer.

  2. 2

    Set the size

    Type a width, or pick your hoop from 4×4" to 8×12". The proportions are kept.

  3. 3

    Check colors and stitches

    Review the thread colors, the stitch preview and the design check. Switch off any color you don't want stitched.

  4. 4

    Download the .PES file

    Choose Brother or the PES format and download. Copy the file to your machine by USB or its app.

About the format

The Brother PES format

PES is the format Brother's embroidery machines and PE-Design use. Baby Lock machines are built on the same platform and read PES too.

Files are written as PES version 6. That includes your thread colors and names for software, plus the PEC block with the Brother palette colors and thumbnails your machine shows on screen.

Colors are matched to the 64-color Brother thread chart, so the machine screen shows close equivalents of your design colors.

Tips for the best result

  • Export logos from your design tool as PNG with a transparent background.
  • Remove drop shadows, glows and gradients first: thread can't blend colors.
  • Thin lines should be at least 0.5 mm wide at the final size, or they become a running stitch.

More detail in our guide to preparing artwork for embroidery.

FAQ

PNG to PES converter questions

The quickest way to see what it does with your artwork is to try it. Digitizing and previewing are free and take about a minute.

Does a transparent PNG work?

Yes. Transparent areas are treated as background and never stitched. Background-colored shapes inside the design are listed as their own color so you can decide whether to stitch them.

What resolution should my PNG be?

Around 1,000 to 2,000 pixels across is ideal. Larger files are scaled down for analysis, and very small ones are enlarged and smoothed.

Will my Brother machine show the right colors?

Yes. Each design color is matched to the nearest color in the Brother thread chart, and those colors are what the machine displays. You can pick a different thread for any color before downloading.

How do I put the PES file on my machine?

Copy the .pes file to a USB stick (or transfer it with Brother's app or software), insert it into the machine and choose it from the embroidery menu.

How much does Embrizo cost?

Trying it is free. Without an account you can upload an image, digitize it, change every setting, watch the stitch preview and sew-out, run the design check and save a PNG preview. Downloading embroidery files such as DST, PES or JEF needs a paid plan: Hobby ($20 a month, 20 design downloads), Shop ($50 a month, 100) or Pro ($100 a month, unlimited). Billed annually, plans start at $8 a month. A design counts once per month however many formats you download, and you can cancel anytime. The pricing page has the details.

Is my image uploaded to a server?

No. Your image is processed entirely on your own device in your web browser and is never uploaded. When you download, only the finished stitch data is sent to create your file. If you save a design, only the finished stitch file, a small preview and its thread colors are stored in your account, never the original image.

Keep going

Related tools and guides

Make your PES file now

Upload an image, preview the stitches and download a Brother PES file in under a minute.