What is digitizing
Is artwork needed
I already have a digitized logo, can you use it
What size do you sew
Do you have stock designs available
Can you modify an existing design
Can you do multi-color lettering
How detailed can you make the design
How much does digitizing cost
We need light and dark items sewn
What materials work best for embroidery
How do you charge for embroidery
Ask the digitizing department a question
Answers
Question #1
Digitizing is the conversion of a logo or design into a data format that embroidery machines understand.
We run on Tajima compatible embroidery machines.
Every line, curve and filled area must be defined to the embroidery machine.
Some designs cannot be digitized without modifing the original design.
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  Question #2
Yes, we must have a design or logo, before we digitize.
The only exception to this is standard stock lettering.
We can work from an exact image close to the correct size.
You can supply the image in a scannable form or bitmap format.
We cannot modify the design in anyway from the original without first doing artwork.
If you do not have an exact logo we must charge you an art charge and then a digitizing charge.
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  Question #3
The answer is maybe, it must be checked before we say yes.
Digitizing files are created with a specific embroidery machine format.
If the format is one that we can read, we can use it.
This does not mean that it can be modified in any way, without verifying the file.
Some digitizing formats do not allow enlargement, reduction or modification.
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  Question #4
The size of the sewing area depends on the design and material.
Most designs for monograms are 3.5"x3.5" or 4"x4".
Most cap designs are 2"x4"
Most crests are 6"x6"
Most jacket backs are 9"x12"
The largest area possible is 12"x12".
Many variables affect the sewing field size, such as seams, detail in the design and material.
No digitizer can put 100 letters in a 3.5"x3.5" area and make it look good.
Embroidery is limited by fine details in a design, the alternative is to make the design larger.
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  Question #5
Yes we have stock designs available
We have over 10,000 stock designs already digitized.
We have cars, mascots, business, school, sport and many other logos available.
You can add lettering to these designs to customize them to what you need.
The price is very reasonable.
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  Question #6
If we created the design, we keep it on file and can modify it.
We can modify your design, if it is in certain formats.
The cost to modify is based on how much of the design requires modification and the difficulty.
Sometimes it is easier and cheaper to create a new design than to attempt to modify an old design.
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  Question #7
Multi-color lettering is only available in a very few fonts styles.
Any other style of lettering requires manual digitizing of the lettering.
This is very time consuming and will increase the cost dramatically.
Very small letters done in multi-color do not sew very well.
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  Question #8
Details are limited by the size of the thread and needles.
Any detail area smaller than the thread must be deleted.
Dot patterns cannot be digitized.
Shading cannot be accomplished very easily.
Some designs require extensive re-drawing before they can be digitized.
Some printed designs just cannot be duplicated by embroidery.
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  Question #9
Digitizing costs are normally charged by the number of stitches in the design.
Most digitizers charge $10 to $20 per 1000 stitches.
This does not include any art charges to modify or create the design to be digitized.
The price can be estimated at the time the artwork is provided.
The estimate is based on the approximate coverage of the design in the area you wish to sew.
The number of letters in the design also effect the pricing.
Monogram prints are 4"x4" and will fit on all sizes of shirts
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  Question #10
Sewing on different colors of items can cause problems.
If the design utilizes the shirt color as part of the design we must modify the design.
If the other shirt color is the same as an important part of the design, there is a problem.
We may have to create a second digited design to sew the other color.
We must know at the time of digitizing what color the material will be.
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  Question #11
We can sew most clothing materials.
Materials that stretch do not sew very well.
We do not sew thick materials like leather, it is very hard on the embroidery machines.
We do not sew plastic.
We do not sew items with cardboard backing.
There are certain locations that we cannot sew, like shirt pockets.
Check with the sales person about restricted locations for embroidery.
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  Question #12
Our sewing charges are based on several factors.
The number of stitches in the design relate to thread usuage and the time it will take to sew the item.
How much detail or how many objects and letters in the design will be used in pricing.
The difficulty in hooping the material is also considered.
The location of the embroidery also effects the pricing.
The size of the design and number of trims is also considered in pricing.