Supported file formats

The Wilcom Embroidery Web API supports a wide range of embroidery-specific and artwork input/output formats to ensure compatibility with professional embroidery workflows and machine types. This format support enables seamless integration across diverse embroidery production environments, from design creation to final stitch-ready output.

🧵Design file formats

The Wilcom EMB file is a design file created using Wilcom embroidery software. It contains detailed information about the embroidery design, including:

Stitch patterns and shapes
Text objects (like lettering and monograms)
Thread colors and sequence
Optional extras like fabric type, artwork, or garment image

EMB files are Wilcom’s proprietary format and can be exported to machine-readable formats like DST for embroidery machines to use. In the API, most functions modify parts of an EMB file — such as changing the text or thread colors. These changes are defined in a 'recipe', which is a set of instructions for what to change and how.

Read: All versions up to e3
Write: Versions from e3 back to V2006 / Only ES e2 and above versions are supported as output.

Older versions can be read but not written. OEM variants – ART, JAN – are supported on request.

📤Machine file formats

EWA allows conversion to and from multiple common embroidery machine file formats, including:

Machine type	Supported file types
Tajima	DST, DSB, DSZ, TBF
Barudan	U01
Melco	EXP
Happy	TAP
ZSK TC	Z01
Pfaff	KSM
Brother/Babylock/Deco	PES
Husqvarna/Viking	HUS
Janome/Elna/Kenmore	JEF

Additional machine formats may be available on request or in future releases.

🖼️Artwork preview input formats

For generating transparent preview images – e.g. customer logos – the API accepts:

Artwork type	File types
Vector	PDF, EPS
Bitmap	PNG, GIF, TIF, PSD, JPG, BMP

These are converted into transparent PNG previews suitable for display in web applications.

📊File summary table

Category	Format / Type	Direction	Notes
Native design format	EMB	Read / Write	Supports all versions up to e3; write down to V2006
	ART (Bernina OEM)	Read only	Up to version V6; write via special arrangement
	JAN (Janome OEM)	Read only	Up to version V4; write via special arrangement
Machine file formats	DST, DSB, DSZ, TBF	Read / Write	Tajima
	U01	Read / Write	Barudan
	EXP	Read / Write	Melco
	TAP	Read / Write	Happy
	Z01	Read / Write	ZSK TC
	KSM	Read / Write	Pfaff
	PES	Read / Write	Brother / Babylock / Deco
	HUS	Read / Write	Husqvarna / Viking
	JEF	Read / Write	Janome / Elna / Kenmore
Artwork input	PDF, EPS	Input only	Vector artwork
	PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, PSD, TIF	Input only	Bitmap artwork
Preview output	PNG	Output only	Transparent background; 96 DPI; scaled to actual embroidery size
Font formats	Wilcom ESA	Read only	ESA (Embroidery Specific Alphabet) files contain over 200 supported embroidery fonts. Custom ESA fonts are installable on request.
	TrueType / OpenType	❌ Not supported	EWA does not use TTF/OTF for lettering generation.