JPG and PNG to JEF
Turn a JPG or PNG into a JEF embroidery file
Upload a picture and InstaEmbroid digitizes it into fill, satin and running stitches, sized for your hoop and saved as a .JEF for Janome and Elna machines. No software to install.
- Pictures in
- JPG, PNG, WebP, BMP or GIF
- File out
- .JEF, with thread colours
- Read by
- Janome and Elna machines
- Also included
- Every other format and a printable thread sheet
How it works
- Add your picture Upload a JPG, PNG, WebP, BMP or GIF. Bold, flat colours and clear outlines stitch best, and a PNG with a transparent background leaves the background unstitched.
- Pick your machine and hoop Choose your machine and hoop and the design is sized to fit, with its stitch speed and format set.
- Match real threads Every colour is matched to a real spool from your thread brand, with its number. Change any of them.
- Preview and download Watch every stitch sew out on screen, then download the .JEF and copy it to your machine.
What is a JEF file?
JEF is Janome's embroidery format. Janome Memory Craft, Skyline, Horizon and MB machines read it, and so do Elna eXpressive machines, which Janome makes.
Each thread is saved as the nearest colour in Janome's chart, and the file records the hoop it was made for, so the machine opens it in the right hoop.
Tips
- Pick the exact hoop you'll sew with in the studio: the hoop is written into the JEF file.
- Janome machines take up to 200,000 stitches per design on most current models.
- Photos have thousands of shades, so they come out simplified and poster-like. Cartoons, logos and drawings give the cleanest results.
Machines that read JEF
- Janome Memory Craft 500E
- Janome Memory Craft 550E
- Janome Memory Craft 400E
- Janome Skyline S9
- Janome Continental M17
- Janome MB-7 (7 needles)
- Janome MB-4S / MB-4Se (4 needles)
- Janome Horizon MC 15000
- Janome Horizon MC 14000
- Janome Horizon MC 12000
- Janome MC 11000 SE
- Janome MC 9900
- Janome MC 9850
- Janome MC 350E / 300E
- Janome MC 10001 / 10000
- Janome MC 9700 / 9500
- Elna eXpressive 830L
- Elna eXpressive 860
Questions
Can I convert a JPG to JEF for free?
Yes. Previews are free and unlimited, and the Free plan includes 3 downloads a week in every format, JEF included. New accounts also get every feature free for their first week.
Can I convert a PNG to JEF too?
Yes. The studio takes JPG, PNG, WebP, BMP or GIF pictures. A PNG with a transparent background is ideal: the background isn't stitched.
Do Elna machines read JEF?
Yes. Elna eXpressive embroidery machines are made by Janome and open the same JEF files.
What's the difference between JEF and JEF+?
JEF+ is the editable file Janome's desktop software saves. Machines sew from JEF, which is what InstaEmbroid gives you.