Why Are the Colors Wrong in My DST File?

The colors look wrong because DST files do not store thread colors. A DST file only records where each color change happens, so your machine or software fills in its own default colors. The design itself is fine.

This is normal for the DST format, and it happens with every DST file from every shop.

What a DST file contains

  • The position of every stitch
  • Where the machine should jump and trim
  • A stop at each point where the thread color changes

What it does not contain is which color goes where. When you open the file, the machine or program assigns colors from its own list, in order. That is why a red apple may show up blue, or a face may show up green.

How to stitch a DST design in the right colors

  1. Open the color chart that came with the design. It is usually a PDF or image in the same folder.
  2. Read the colors in order. Color 1 on the chart is the first thread the machine will ask for, color 2 is the second, and so on.
  3. Thread the machine with the first color from the chart, whatever color the screen shows.
  4. Each time the machine stops for a color change, switch to the next color on the chart.

The number of stops on the machine should match the number of colors on the chart. If they match, you are on track.

Other ways to fix it

  • Use a different format if your machine reads one. Formats such as PES, JEF and VP3 store thread colors, so the design appears correctly on screen. Most downloads include several formats.
  • Change the colors on the machine. Many machines let you reassign each color on screen before stitching. This only changes the preview, and it makes the stitch-out easier to follow.
  • Set the colors in embroidery software. If you use software, you can assign the right colors there and save the file.

EXP files behave the same way, because that format does not store thread colors either.

Learn more in what is DST format in machine embroidery and what is PES format in machine embroidery.

Every design in our machine embroidery designs comes with a color chart inside the ZIP file, showing the thread colors and stitching order.

Have another question? See all the answers in our machine embroidery designs FAQ.