DST to PNG

Export a DST design as a PNG preview

Stitch Viewer draws the stitch path and writes the design's specification block onto the image, so a single PNG carries both the picture and the numbers. It is the fastest way to send a design for approval.

  • Design and specs in one image
  • Rendered on device
  • Ready for the iOS share sheet
  • No account required

Last updated: 2026-11-01

What “DST to PNG” means here

In Stitch Viewer, exporting to PNG produces a flat image of the design together with its specification block: design name, size in millimetres, stitch count, colour changes and the folder the file came from.

It is an image export, not a machine-format conversion. The .dst file itself is not rewritten, and nothing is converted into PES, JEF or any other stitch format. If you need a machine file in a different format, you need a converter, and this is not one.

What you get is the thing you actually send to a person: one picture that answers “what does it look like” and “how big is it, how many stitches is it” at the same time.

How to export a DST design as a PNG

  1. Open the design in Stitch ViewerAdd the folder as a workspace, then open the .dst file you want to send.
  2. Check the specification block firstConfirm size, stitch count and colour changes are what you expect, because those exact values go onto the image.
  3. Tap Export PNGThe app renders the stitch path at the correct proportions and lays out the specification text underneath it.
  4. Share or save through the iOS share sheetSend it by message, mail it, drop it into a chat with your workshop, or save it to Files.

What is on the exported PNG

ElementIncludedWhy it matters
Stitch path previewYesShows the design as the machine will stitch it
Design nameYesIdentifies the design without opening a file name
Size in millimetresYesConfirms hoop fit before anything is stitched
Stitch countYesDrives pricing and production time
Colour changesYesTells the operator how many thread stops to plan
Folder nameYesUseful when several similar versions exist

Where a spec-carrying PNG saves time

Customer approval

Send one image instead of a design plus a separate message listing the size and stitch count. Fewer round trips, fewer misunderstandings.

Workshop handoff

Whoever loads the machine sees the same design and the same numbers you confirmed.

Quotes and records

Keep the exported PNG with the job file, so the quoted stitch count can be checked later without reopening the design.

What the PNG is not

The exported file is a raster image. It is not vector, it is not a stitch file, and it cannot be sewn. Its purpose is human review and record-keeping.

It also does not prove that a design is production-ready. It shows what the stitch data looks like and what the header claims; density, pull compensation and machine-specific behaviour still need the tools that are built for them.

DST to PNG questions

Does this convert my DST into a machine format?

No. The export is a PNG image. The .dst file is left untouched, and no machine format is produced.

Will the exported PNG show the stitch count?

Yes. The specification block on the image includes the design name, size, stitch count and colour changes.

Can I choose the resolution?

The export is sized for reading and sharing on screen and in chat apps, which is what the workflow needs. It is not intended for large-format printing.

Is the design uploaded anywhere during export?

No. Rendering happens on the device, and the PNG is created locally before it goes to the share sheet.

Can I export several designs at once?

Export works one design at a time, so each PNG stays readable and clearly tied to one specification block.

Keep reading

Send the design and the numbers in one image

Export a DST preview as a PNG with its specifications attached, straight from iPhone or iPad.

Download on the App Store