Extract text from Brother embroidery patterns (PMU)
To convert PMU patterns to another format, you need Brother PE-Design or other Data software.
To convert other file formats to the "Embroidery Pattern File" file type, you need software like Brother PE-Design or a similar tool.
The .PMU file format most frequently functions as a proprietary embroidery machine pattern file developed by Brother Industries. These files store intricate stitching instructions, thread color coordinates, and physical paths necessary for Brother-branded embroidery machines and Brother PE-Design software to physically stitch a textile design. Alternatively, .PMU is utilized as a "chunk file" format storing compiled game data and assets for the Homeworld game series, heavily associated with Relic Entertainment and the Unity engine.
The massive disadvantage of the .PMU format is its heavily closed, proprietary nature. If you are handling an embroidery pattern, sharing a .PMU file with someone using a Tajima or Bernina machine is useless. Standard web browsers, phones, and standard image viewers completely lack the specialized rendering engines to interpret X/Y thread coordinates. For game modders, the Homeworld .PMU files are compressed binary chunks that will appear as corrupted gibberish if opened in a standard text editor.
When working with embroidery files, you should convert .PMU to universally accepted machine formats like PES, DST, or EXP. Keep in mind that generic conversions can occasionally drop thread color metadata or disrupt thread tension settings. If you only need to preview the design visually, converting to a raster image like PNG or JPG is the best option.
Because this file format is exceptionally difficult to open or convert, standard online converters often fail to process it. Usually, only the original software can properly read or export the data. However, just drag and drop your file into convert.guru to identify the format, view it, and convert it when possible. Our system will inspect the binary contents, and if a supported underlying embedded format is detected, viewing or partial conversion may still be viable.
Convert.Guru analyzes your PMU file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted CFG, PMZ, PM0 and PMR files.
If you want to convert PMU file to TMP, TEMP, CACHE, LOG, BAK, OLD, NEW, PART, DOWNLOAD, CRDOWNLOAD, LOCK or PID, you can use Brother PE-Design or similar software from the "Embroidery Pattern and Game Data" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert DEVICE, CACHE, SOCK, SYMLINK, PID, MOUNT, FIFO, LOG, PIPE, TMP, JUNCTION or TEMP files to PMU, try Brother PE-Design or another comparable tool in the "Embroidery Pattern and Game Data" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our PMU converter.