Learn From Our Digitizers
Straightforward articles on digitizing, file formats, 3D puff, patches and artwork preparation, written by the people who sew out every file we deliver.
File Formats
DST, PES, JEF explained
3D Puff
Cap digitizing rules
Patches
Types, backings & costs
Artwork Tips
Prepare logos for thread
Latest Articles
Everything we wish our customers knew before sending their first logo. New guides are added regularly.
Embroidery machines cannot read a JPG or PNG. Digitizing converts your artwork into a stitch file that tells the machine exactly where and how to sew. Here is how the process works from start to finish.
Every embroidery machine brand reads its own file format. Pick the wrong one and the design will not load, or it loads without colors. Here is a simple map of the formats and the machines that use them.
3D puff is the raised, bold lettering you see on snapbacks and trucker caps. It looks simple but it is one of the hardest things to digitize well. This guide covers the rules that separate crisp puff from foam poking out of the edges.
The better your artwork, the better your embroidery. A few small changes to your logo before digitizing can be the difference between a clean sew-out and a blurry mess. Here is a checklist you can run through in ten minutes.
Patches come in more varieties than most people expect, and each one suits a different kind of design. This comparison covers the five main types, what they cost, how they hold up and how to pick the right one for your logo.
When embroidery goes wrong, the machine usually gets the blame. In most cases the file is the problem. These are the ten digitizing mistakes we see most often in files sent to us for repair, and what a correct file does instead.
Send your artwork and get a free quote within an hour. Every file is manually digitized and test-sewn before delivery.
