DST vs JEF: which embroidery format should you use?
DST is Tajima's format, used by commercial multi-needle machines; JEF is Janome's, used by Janome and Elna home machines. JEF stores thread colors; DST doesn't, so keep a color sheet with it. The stitches are the same in both, so use the one your machine reads and convert when you need the other.
| Feature | DST | JEF |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Tajima | Janome |
| Machines | Tajima, Barudan, SWF, Ricoma, Happy, most commercial machines | Janome, Elna |
| Mainly used on | Commercial multi-needle machines | Janome and Elna home machines |
| Stores thread colors | No (color stops only) | Yes |
| File extension | .dst | .jef |
Choose DST if…
… you run a commercial multi-needle machine, or need a file almost any machine can open.
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.
Choose JEF if…
… you sew on a Janome or Elna machine.
JEF is Janome's embroidery format, used by the Memory Craft and Skyline embroidery machines and by Elna machines built on the same platform.
Turn any image into DST or JEF
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DST vs JEF questions
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What's the difference between DST and JEF?
DST is Tajima's format, used by commercial multi-needle machines; JEF is Janome's, used by Janome and Elna home machines. JEF stores thread colors; DST doesn't, so keep a color sheet with it. The stitches are the same in both, so use the one your machine reads and convert when you need the other.
Can I convert DST to JEF?
Yes. Open the .dst file in the free DST to JEF converter and save it as .jef. The stitches carry over exactly; thread colors are matched to the closest threads.
Does converting between DST and JEF lose quality?
No. Both formats store the same needle positions, so the design sews the same. What can change is the color information and any software-only extras, not the stitches.
Which is better, DST or JEF?
Neither is better in itself. Use DST if you run a commercial multi-needle machine, or need a file almost any machine can open; use JEF if you sew on a Janome or Elna machine.
How do I make a file in either format from an image?
Upload the image to the digitizer, check the stitch preview and download DST, JEF or any other format. Digitizing and previewing are free with an account.
More format comparisons
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