What is a DST file?
DST (Tajima DST) is the most widely used embroidery machine file format in the world. Unlike a picture, a DST file doesn’t contain an image — it contains a list of needle movements: where each stitch goes, where the machine should jump, and when to change thread color. That’s why you can’t just “open” a DST file like a photo — you need a viewer that draws the stitches for you.
What this free DST viewer does
🧵 True stitch previewEvery stitch is drawn from the actual machine data — not a thumbnail. Zoom right in to inspect density and details.
📐 Exact measurementsInstant width × height in millimetres and inches, so you know whether the design fits your hoop before you sew.
🔢 Stitch & jump countsSee total stitches, color changes and jump stitches — the numbers digitizers use to quote a job.
🎨 Color block mapDesigns are split into their color blocks automatically. Recolor any block to preview your real thread choices.
⬇ Export PNG & SVGDownload a clean preview image or a vector SVG of the design — handy for customer approvals.
🔒 100% privateFiles are parsed inside your browser with JavaScript. Nothing is uploaded, stored or shared — ever.
How to view a DST file
1. Click “Open DST File” (or drag & drop the file onto the preview area).
2. The design renders instantly with its stitch count, colors and size.
3. Scroll to zoom, drag to pan, click a color block to isolate it.
4. Optionally download a PNG preview or SVG vector of the design.
Frequently asked questions
What program opens DST files?
Professional options include Wilcom, Hatch and Pulse — but they’re paid software. This free online DST viewer opens any Tajima DST file instantly in your browser with no install and no signup.
Do DST files contain thread colors?
No. A DST file only records when the color changes, not which color. That’s why this viewer assigns a default palette and lets you click any swatch to set the actual thread color you plan to sew with.
Can I convert a DST file to PES, JPG or PNG?
Yes — use the
PNG button above to export a preview image of any DST file, or the
SVG button for a vector version. For machine-format conversion (DST → PES, EXP, JEF), the stitch data must be re-encoded per format — if you need that, our
digitizing service can convert and clean up any file.
Is my uploaded file kept private?
Completely. The file is parsed by JavaScript running on your own device — it is never uploaded to any server, and there’s no account or tracking involved.
Why does my design look flipped or mirrored?
DST stores raw machine coordinates, and different software applies different Y-axis conventions. If a design appears upside-down, that’s just the viewer’s orientation — the stitch data itself is unchanged and will sew correctly.
The viewer says “No stitch data found” — what’s wrong?
The file is likely corrupted, truncated, or not actually a DST file (sometimes files are misnamed). Try re-exporting it from your digitizing software. If it still fails,
send it to us and we’ll take a look.
Need a DST file digitized or fixed?
Viewing is free — but if your design needs digitizing from a logo, resizing, or cleanup, our manual digitizing starts at just $10 with machine-ready DST, PES, EXP and JEF output.
Get Digitizing →