print format

What is a .PES file?

PES is the embroidery format for Brother and Babylock machines, holding stitch data and thread colors.

Full name
Brother Embroidery
Developed by
Brother
Released
1990s
Extension
.pes
MIME type
application/octet-stream
Transparency
No

How to open a PES file

PES opens in PE-Design and most embroidery software.

What PES files are used for

Commercial printing

Accurate ink-based color on paper.

Embroidery & cutting

Machine-readable production files.

Document exchange

Layouts that look identical everywhere.

Strengths & limitations

✔ Strengths✖ Limitations
Purpose-built for its nicheNo transparency support

Need more than a conversion?

Remove the background from PES images, upscale to 4K, or generate new visuals with SharkFoto AI.

Frequently asked questions

PES is the embroidery format for Brother and Babylock machines, holding stitch data and thread colors.

PES opens in PE-Design and most embroidery software.

PES is optimised for its specific use rather than strictly lossless storage.

Use SharkFoto's free tools — upload your PES file and convert it to a more convenient format in seconds. It's free, processed securely and never stored.

No — PES doesn't store transparency; convert to PNG or WEBP if you need it.