Digitizing

If you’ve ordered custom embroidery before you’ve probably heard the word “digitizing”. What is embroidery digitizing? Embroidery digitizing is the process of converting artwork into a stitch file that can be read by an embroidery machine and interpreted as different stitch types. Is digitizing a “one step”, click-the-button process? No!

Embroidery Digitizing – The Basic Steps:

• Understand the required design size, fabric type, artwork, and any special requirements
• Prepare artwork for digitizing
• Decide how the design will run on an embroidery machine from start to finish
• Assign embroidery stitch types to specific areas while considering factors such as the fabric type and “push and pull” of the garment
• Test run the design to see if adjustments to the digitizing are needed

Understand the Digitizing Job

First the digitizer must understand the requirements of the specific digitizing job. This includes knowing the desired size of the digitized design and the type of fabric and garment it will be embroidered on. It also involves learning how the design should be interpreted. If there are white spaces in the design should those areas be in thread or should the background show through? The digitizer should also know if a particular style of digitizing is required or if specific stitch types should be used to match an existing design.

Preparing Artwork for Embroidery Digitizing

Next, the digitizer must analyze the artwork to see if it should be edited for embroidery. The final size of the design must be considered. Not all logos that were designed for a print media such as a business card will work well for embroidery. Many designs need to be modified or simplified. Sometimes only the design name and a small image are used. Some elements such as outlining may need to be eliminated and small text may be enlarged and rearranged.