DST to EXP Converter
Convert Tajima DST embroidery files to Melco EXP — stitch-for-stitch, free, in your browser.
Quick answer: To convert DST to EXP for free, you need a stitch-level converter, not an image converter — embroidery files store needle movements, not pictures. This tool decodes the Tajima DST stitch commands in your browser and re-encodes them as Melco EXP 1:1, preserving every stitch, jump and color change at the original size.
This converter decodes the actual stitch commands in your Tajima DST file and re-encodes them as a Melco EXP file — every stitch, jump and color change preserved exactly, at the original size. It is not an image trace, and the file never leaves your browser.
Commercial DST designs need EXP to run natively on Melco machines.
Beware of generic "file converter" websites offering this conversion: most treat embroidery files like images and produce output no machine can sew. A stitch file must be converted at the stitch level — that's what this does.
How it works
- Drop a Tajima DST (.dst) file — it is decoded locally in your browser.
- Check the detected stitch count, size and color changes.
- Download the Melco EXP (.exp) file, converted stitch-for-stitch.
Good to know
- Conversion preserves the design 1:1 — it cannot resize it or adjust stitch densities for different fabric. If the size or fabric changes, the design should be re-digitized from the original artwork.
- EXP records color-change stops but not thread colors — keep your color sequence notes.
- Always run a test sew-out before production, as with any converted file.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting DST to EXP lose quality?
No — the stitch data is copied 1:1 (we validated the conversion against the industry reference library on real production files). What conversion can never do is adapt the design to a new size or fabric; that's re-digitizing, not converting.
Is my design file uploaded to your server?
No. The whole conversion runs inside your browser — for commercial designs that matters.
Why does my converted EXP file sew wrong colors?
Machine formats store limited color data — the operator sets the thread sequence at the machine. The stitches themselves are unchanged.
Can you convert a JPG or PNG logo this way?
No — an image has no stitches to convert. Turning artwork into an embroidery file is digitizing, a manual craft. DigitEMB does exactly that from $10 with free edits.