The Brother SE700 is one of the most popular home embroidery machines on the market. It's beginner-friendly, produces high-quality results, and supports both PES (its native format) and DST files.

In this tutorial we'll walk through exactly how to convert any image — a flower, a logo, a character, anything — into an embroidery file you can transfer to your SE700 and stitch out.

What you'll do in this tutorial

1 Upload your image to EmbroideryTrace
2 Let the AI analyze and vectorize your design
3 Add satin stitch to the outline layers
4 Apply auto fill to the solid color layers
5 Export and download your DST or PES file

Upload your image to EmbroideryTrace

Supported formats: PNG, JPG, SVG · Free to start

Go to embroiderytrace.com and create a free account. On the main screen you'll see the upload area.

Drag and drop your image onto the dashed upload box, or click "browse" to open the file picker. EmbroideryTrace accepts PNG, JPG, JPEG, and SVG files.

Pro tip

For the cleanest results, use images with flat colors and clear outlines — illustrations, cartoons, and simple logos work best. High-contrast PNG files with transparent backgrounds are ideal.

PNG or JPG with a white/transparent background
Designs with 2–6 colors digitize most cleanly
Minimum recommended image size: 300×300 px

Let the AI analyze your design

This takes only a few seconds

Once you upload your image, EmbroideryTrace displays an "Analyzing for best conversion…" screen. The AI is doing several things at once:

Vectorizing the image and separating it into color layers
Identifying paths — outlines, fills, and details
Preparing the Stitch Editor with your design's layers

When analysis is complete, you'll be taken directly into the Stitch Editor. Each color in your design will appear as a separate layer in the layers panel.

Add satin stitch to your outline layers

Best for black outlines, borders, and thin shapes

In the Stitch Editor toolbar, you'll see tabs across the top: Fill, Satin, Running, Cut, Fill, Erase. Click the Satin tab.

You'll see the "Create Satin Columns" toolbar appear. For outlines (like a black border around your design), the Draw Edges approach works best — it traces the edges of your path and creates smooth satin columns that follow the curves of the outline.

✓ Use Satin Stitch for:

Narrow shapes, outlines, borders, lettering, and thin design elements — anything under ~6mm wide. Gives a smooth, raised, professional finish.

Avoid Satin Stitch for:

Large solid fill areas. Very wide shapes can cause satin stitch to pucker or lose tension. Use Fill stitch instead for areas wider than ~6mm.

For the flower example in the tutorial video, the black outline layer uses satin stitch to create a crisp, bold border that pops against the fabric.

How to apply

Select the black/outline layer in the layers panel → click Satin in the toolbar → click Draw Edges → click on your outline path to apply satin columns. You'll see green guide lines appear showing the stitch direction.

Apply auto fill to the color layers

Best for solid color regions and background fills

Now switch to the Fill tab in the toolbar. Select Auto Fill from the dropdown. Auto Fill is EmbroideryTrace's smart fill — it calculates the optimal stitch angle for each shape, produces uniform coverage, and handles complex curves automatically.

Click on each solid color layer (like the orange petals and the teal/blue center circle in the tutorial) to apply fill stitches. The stitch angle defaults to Auto, which works well for most shapes, but you can also choose 0°, 45°, 90°, or 135° if you prefer a specific direction.

Stitch angle tip

For fabric that has a visible weave direction, try matching your fill angle to the grain. A 45° angle often looks best on most cotton fabrics and creates a clean diagonal texture.

After applying fill to all color layers, preview your design using the stitch preview panel on the right side. You should see a fully stitched-out version of your design with all layers colored correctly.

Export and download your embroidery file

Choose DST or PES for the Brother SE700

When you're happy with your design, click the "Export Stitch" button (or the download icon in the top bar). You'll see a preview of the finished design along with key machine settings.

Recommended settings for Brother SE700

Needle

Embroidery 80/12

Standard for most cotton/polyester

Speed

Medium · 800 SPM

Lower for dense designs

Stabilizer

Cut-Away or Tear-Away

Cut-away for stretch fabrics

Thread

40wt Polyester

Rayon also works well

Now choose your file format. For the Brother SE700, you have two great options:

Format	Compatibility	Best for
PES	Brother & Babylock (native)	Direct USB transfer, preserves color names	Recommended
DST	Most machines (universal)	Sharing with other embroiderers, commercial machines

Click "Download .DST" or "Download .PES" to save the file to your computer.

SE700 transfer tip

The Brother SE700 reads embroidery files from a USB flash drive (USB-A, FAT32 format). Create a folder called BROTHER on the drive and place your PES or DST files inside. The SE700's touchscreen will let you browse and select the design to embroider.

Watch: Full tutorial walkthrough

This short video shows the complete workflow — upload an image, edit stitches, download the DST file for the Brother SE700.

Ready to try it yourself?

Create your first embroidery file for the Brother SE700 in minutes — free to start.

Upload Your Image — Free

No software to install · No credit card needed

Frequently asked questions

What file format does the Brother SE700 use?

The Brother SE700 natively reads PES files (Brother's own format). It can also read DST files, which is the Tajima format and is widely compatible across most embroidery machines. When using EmbroideryTrace, we recommend downloading PES for the easiest transfer experience on the SE700.

How do I transfer the embroidery file to my SE700?

The SE700 uses a standard USB-A flash drive. Format your drive as FAT32, optionally create a BROTHER folder, then copy your PES or DST file onto it. Insert the USB drive into the SE700's USB port, then use the touchscreen to navigate to USB → select your design → press the embroidery button.

What is the maximum embroidery size on the SE700?

The Brother SE700 includes a 4"×4" (102mm×102mm) hoop and a 5"×7" hoop. The maximum embroidery field is 5"×7" (130mm×180mm) with the larger hoop. When exporting from EmbroideryTrace, make sure your design fits within these dimensions — the export screen shows the width and height in millimeters.

What's the difference between satin stitch and fill stitch?

Satin stitch runs parallel threads back and forth across a shape to create a smooth, shiny surface — best for narrow areas and outlines (up to ~6mm wide). Fill stitch (also called tatami or running fill) covers large areas with rows of stitches and handles any size shape without puckering. Use satin for outlines and details, fill for large solid regions.

How many colors can the SE700 handle?

The Brother SE700 supports up to 12 thread colors per design. When a color change is needed, the machine stops and prompts you to swap threads. EmbroideryTrace organizes your design into color layers automatically — you can see the layer count in the stitch editor.

Is EmbroideryTrace free to use for the SE700?

Yes — EmbroideryTrace is completely free to upload, edit, and preview designs. A paid Pro plan is only required when you want to download the final DST or PES file. You can do everything in this tutorial for free, and only upgrade when you're ready to stitch.

How to Make Embroidery Files for the Brother SE700