SHV File

What are SHV files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a SHV file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your SHV files.

What is a SHV file?

SHV files have multiple uses, and Maxon Cinema 4D 2D Shader is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Maxon Cinema 4D 2D Shader

We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

How to open SHV files

Important: Different programs may use files with the SHV file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your SHV file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested ten different SHV openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: August 13, 2026

All known file formats using extension .SHV

While Maxon Cinema 4D 2D Shader is a popular type of SHV-file, we know of 3 different uses of the .SHV file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Maxon Cinema 4D 3D Shader

We know that one SHV format is Maxon Cinema 4D 3D Shader. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Viking Embroidery File

The Viking Embroidery File format with extension .SHV is a binary embroidery stitch design format created by Husqvarna-Viking for use with their Designer 1 sewing machines. It stores a finished design: the stitch data, thread colour information, and associated image-icon graphics so that designs appear in the machine's menus. SHV files are produced by Viking's embroidery software when preparing designs for stitching and transferred (historically via floppy disk or compatible media) to the machine.

Files in .SHV are written by Viking's Disk Manager or embroidery design programs that support creating "Designer 1 compatible" disks. Such programs assemble SHV with its menu and display files (like PHV, MHV) so the machine can list and show designs in its internal menu. Conversion tools (for example SewWhat-Pro) can export other stitch formats (e.g. PES, HUS, VP3) into SHV, and can also combine and write sets of SHV/MHV/PHV files in the correct folder/menu structure for Designer 1 disks.

Technically, SHV files begin with the ASCII signature: Embroidery disk created using software licensed from Viking Sewing Machines AB, Sweden after which comes design metadata, an icon image (for menu display), then the stitch commands. PHV and MHV or similar companion files provide the menu display graphics. Numeric values like width and height in some parts use big-endian multi-byte fields.

SHV opener for Windows

We have identified one SHV opener that is compatible with this specific type of SHV file.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of SHV files. Remember, different programs may use SHV files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about SHV file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.