How to view a .ART file online
Three steps, a few seconds.
Open your .ART file
Drop your design on the box or click to choose it from your computer or a USB stick.
Check size and colours
See the finished size in millimetres and inches, the hoop it fits, the stitch count and every thread change with its colour.
Watch it stitch
Press play to watch the design being sewn stitch by stitch, or drag the slider to any point. Save a PNG preview for your records.
What is a .ART file?
Machine instructions, not pictures.
An ART file is a BERNINA ARTista embroidery design - the native, editable format of BERNINA's embroidery software (ARTlink / Embroidery Software). It holds the design's outlines, stitches, and thread colors. Open it with the free BERNINA ARTlink or Wilcom TrueSizer. To stitch the design, export it to your machine format (EXP for Bernina machines, DST or PES for others) - do not rename it.
Programs that open .ART files
| Full name | Bernina ARTista Embroidery Design |
|---|---|
| Developer | BERNINA International AG (with Wilcom, who develop the embroidery engine) |
| First released | ARTista era; the versioned .ART50/.ART60/.ART70/.ART80 forms arrived with ARTlink 5 onward (mid-2000s+) |
| Category | Data & Other |
| MIME type | application/octet-stream |
| Signature | D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 (OLE2/CFBF compound-file header (same container as legacy .doc/.xls); the embroidery streams sit inside) |
Related viewers
Other free tools to open and preview your files.
Frequently asked questions
Is my .ART file uploaded?
No. Your .ART file is decoded and drawn. Your designs stay.
Why are the colours different from my design software?
DST and EXP files don't store colours at all, only the places where thread changes. JEF stores Janome thread numbers, which we show with approximate colours. PES and PEC colours use the Brother thread palette.
How long will it take to stitch?
We estimate the time from the stitch count at 600 stitches per minute plus about 30 seconds per colour change. Real speed depends on your machine and the fabric.
Which hoop do I need?
We suggest the smallest common hoop that fits the design's width and height with a little margin. Check your machine's hoop list for the exact sizes.
Can I convert DST to PES here?
Not yet - conversion between machine formats is planned. The viewer already reads all the stitch data a converter needs.
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