Logo digitizing for embroidery is not the same as saving your logo in a new file type. To digitize a logo means redrawing it as stitches: choosing which shapes become satin columns, which become fills, which details are too small to survive in thread, and what order everything sews in. A printed logo can have hairline strokes and 3 pt text. A digitized logo has to work with thread that is roughly 0.4 mm thick on fabric that moves. Our guide on what embroidery digitizing is covers the basics if you are new to it.
What happens when you get your logo digitized
When you digitize your logo online with us, a digitizer looks at the artwork the way an operator would look at the finished shirt. The questions are practical: will this text read at 3.5 in wide, will this thin outline hold, will these two colors register, will this fill pucker a polo? Then the file is built around the answers.
- Shapes are rebuilt as stitch objects with a stitch type and angle chosen for each one.
- Text is reset for thread, with letter spacing opened slightly and serifs simplified where needed.
- Underlay, density and pull compensation are set for the fabric you name in the order.
- Colors are sequenced to cut color changes and trims, and mapped to the thread chart you use.
Vector or raster: what logo files work best
We accept JPG, PNG, PDF, AI, EPS, SVG, PSD and ZIP files. A vector logo (AI, EPS, SVG or a vector PDF) is the best starting point because every curve is exact and small text is sharp at any zoom. A raster logo (JPG or PNG) works too, as long as the details are readable. A low resolution screenshot is fine for a simple mark, but for fine text or thin lines, send the largest version you have.
| What you have | How well it works | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| AI, EPS, SVG or vector PDF | Best | Include the font name or outlined text if you have it |
| High resolution PNG or JPG | Very good | Send the original, not a copy pulled from social media |
| Screenshot or small web logo | Fine for simple logos | Tell us the exact wording so we can reset any blurry text |
| Photo of a shirt or sign | Workable | Shoot straight on, in good light, and add the text in the notes |
If you also need clean vector art for print, our logo vectorization service redraws the artwork separately. You do not need it to order digitizing.
Simplifying a logo for thread
Most logos were designed for screens and print. Embroidery logo digitizing means deciding what to keep, what to adjust and what to drop so the logo still looks like itself in thread.
Small text
Satin lettering needs about 0.25 in (5 to 6 mm) of height to sew cleanly. A tagline set in tiny type under a 3.5 in logo often falls below that. We tell you on the proof when text is at risk, and suggest options: enlarge it, use a simpler stitch, or drop the tagline for small placements and keep it for the jacket back.
Thin lines and outlines
A satin column narrower than about 1 mm does not cover well. Hairline outlines become a single or triple run stitch, and very thin shapes are widened slightly so they read at arm's length.
Gradients, shadows and photo effects
Thread cannot blend colors smoothly the way ink can. Gradients become two or three tonal steps, or a gradient fill that varies stitch spacing to suggest shading. Drop shadows and glows are either simplified into solid shapes or removed. We explain what we changed on the proof.
Tiny gaps and counters
The inside holes of letters like "e" and "a" close up if the thread spreads. We keep counters open with careful compensation, and merge gaps that are too small to show.
Matching brand colors to thread
Tell us the thread brand you use (Madeira, Isacord, Robison-Anton and others) and any Pantone references, and we set the color sequence to match that chart. The PDF worksheet lists each color in sewing order so your operator can thread up without guessing. If you do not give us a thread chart, we match by eye to the artwork and note the colors on the worksheet so you can swap them for your stock.
Brand colors on a screen and thread colors under shop lights never match perfectly. If color is critical, name your thread numbers in the order notes and we will use them exactly.
One logo, several sizes and placements
A company logo usually goes on more than one item. A left chest polo, a cap front and a jacket back each need their own version, because stitch count, underlay and compensation change with size, and caps need different sequencing. Scaling one file up or down by more than about 20% causes thin satins, thick fills and gaps.
| Version | Typical use | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Main design | Left chest, up to 4.5 in | $14 |
| Extra size | Full front or jacket back version of the same logo | $6 per size |
| Cap version | Structured cap front, resequenced center-out | $6 |
For a cap-specific version, see cap and hat digitizing. For logo placements under about 4 in, see left chest digitizing.
What our logo digitizing service includes
- DST, PES, EXP, JEF, VP3, XXX, HUS and VIP files, with PXF and EMB or ART working files on request
- A PDF worksheet with stitch count, finished size and color sequence
- A stitch simulation proof, with unlimited revisions until you approve
- Free minor edits for 30 days after delivery
- A copy in your saved logo library for downloads and re-orders
How to get your logo digitized
- Create an account in the order form and upload your logo.
- Enter the finished size, placement and fabric, and add any extra sizes or a cap version.
- Check the price, choose turnaround (24, 12 or 6 hours) and submit.
- Review the proof and request changes until it is right.
- Approve, pay and download every format.
Your first design is free up to $24 of design value, which covers a standard left chest logo. For a do-it-yourself walkthrough of the process, read how to digitize a logo for embroidery.
Upload your logo and see the price before you submit. Get my logo digitized
