At Thread Logic, we believe buying custom embroidery for your team should be stress free. That's why we focus on providing high-quality, durable embroidery on products made by well-known brands at easy-to-understand prices. In our decades in business, we've been asked about the embroidery process, logo sizes, and more, so we've compiled the most asked questions here and let our in-house embroidery expert, founder Jeff Taxdahl, provide the answers.
What artwork file type is best for embroidery?
This is a question very often asked of us in the logo embroidery process.
The two most common file types are Vector files and flat files. Vector files are ones where the colors in the image can be separated into “layers” for printing purposes. These types of files are most often used when printing on vinyl or paper, like those used for marketing materials. In those processes, the printer separates each unique color and creates a “layer” for printing just that color. Then those layers are stacked to create the final image.
Flat files are just what they sound like. They are flat, and the colors are not separated into layers for reproduction.
Because of how the images are prepared for embroidery, we do not need to separate the colors like a printing process. Therefore, with embroidered logos, JPG, PNG, and PDF files work the best.
Vector formats like EPS and AI files also work, but for embroidery, there is no separation of colors needed.
To be honest, we have even created embroidered logos from photos of a logo from the side of a truck, a previously embroidered shirt, or even a computer screen.
The simple answer to the question of what file works best is to send us whatever file type you have, and if we can’t make it work, we will let you know.
What is a DST file for embroidery, and why can’t I open it?
A DST file is the kind of file used in commercial embroidery machines to read in order to recreate the image in embroidery.
The term "DST" stands for Date Stitch Tajima. It is a widely used industrial embroidery machine file format, originally created for Tajima embroidery machines, that acts as a universal language for most commercial embroidery machines to read stitch coordinates, needle movement, and color change commands.
DST files are the result of the digitizing process where an image file, such as a JPG or PNG file, is converted into a format that the embroidery machines can read.
The reason you can’t open and see a DST file is because you need a specific computer program that can open and read the file. The programs are often used to create the digitized files in the first place. In general, the programs used to create and read these files are expensive.
A DST file is a very universal file type, and most any commercial embroidery company will be able to use it to recreate an image in embroidery.
One of the limitations of a DST file is the inability to use it to scale an embroidered image. The file was created to replicate the image in a specific size. To scale the image significantly up or down will change the stitch density required, and the result will be poor.
If a brand requires specific Pantone Matching System (PMS) color codes, how close can embroidery thread get to an exact match?
The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a standardized, proprietary color reproduction system used to ensure color consistency across print, graphic design, and manufacturing. It has been in place for decades and is known as the standard across which companies can ensure the specific color they want to use is consistent across many applications.
One of the most common places PMS colors are used is in company logos. And because we embroider logos, we often obtain these PMS color codes to provide that color consistency in our final product.
But we do face a challenge when working to match PMS colors in logos. As of this writing, there are over 2000 unique PMS codes in the PMS system. There are not nearly as many thread colors manufactured for embroidery. Because of that, it can sometimes be very difficult to match a color exactly.
The good news is we can often get very close to a unique PMS color with embroidery thread. In fact, we can usually get close enough that the naked eye is unable to discern a difference.
We use the best embroidery thread on the market that offers the widest array of colors and color consistency from spool to spool. That means the color of your logo from last year will be the same color you get this year.
How big should a logo be on a shirt?
For a more in-depth answer to embroidery logo sizes, check out our Custom Logo Embroidery Size Guide. This answer is focused on left-chest logo size and placement.
We’re often asked this question when someone is interested in buying custom logo embroidered apparel from us at Thread Logic. And it is a very good question.
If you want your logo embroidered on the left chest of a shirt, size matters, right? Too big and it will be out of proportion and goofy on the shirt. Too small and it may not be easily seen or read by the people you want to see it.
The answer, of course, is more complicated than it first appears, but in this post, I will try and explain two quick ways you can see what size your logo might end up being.
First of all, there is no real standard size for every embroidered logo, and that is simply because every logo is different and must be treated differently. However, there are some guidelines that can help you understand how big a logo will be on a shirt.
Because nearly all of the logos we embroider are on the left chest of apparel, we will concentrate on that application. Obviously, if the application is full front or full back, the discussion is very different.
The Logo Shape
The final size of an embroidered logo depends a great deal on the shape of the logo. For example, we approach logos that are a circle shape differently than ones that are more horizontal or vertical. By the nature of their shape, circle logos look bigger because they cover more area.
Therefore, we usually recommend circle logos be sized to 2.5 inches in diameter. At that size, the elements are generally big enough to embroider well, and the circle image still doesn’t look out of proportion on the left chest of a shirt.
The Top Box logo is more of a square shape. A square shape can appear very large because of the area it covers. Therefore, we need to be careful not to make it too big. In the case of logos that have more of a square shape, we like to keep them at about 3 inches wide or less. Anymore and they don’t look good.
Business Card Size
Most everyone is familiar with the size of a business card. If you are looking for a quick and dirty definition of logo size, this is the one. Most logos, either horizontal or vertical in orientation, end up about the size of a business card. The standard business card is 3.5 inches by 2 inches.
When asked this question, I have even recommended that people take a business card and put it to their left chest so they can get an idea of how large a logo will be.
The Ghosts logo is a good example of a logo that is about the size of a business card.
What Logo Size Is Too Big?
We have found that any logo that is over 4 inches long or 4 inches tall is too big for the left chest of a shirt. Not only does it look out of proportion, but larger than 4 inches wide, and it starts to dive into the arm pit-which never looks good.
As you can see, answering the question about logo size may not be as easy as it first appears. Hopefully we have helped you answer this question and therefore make a more educated decision about your embroidered logo apparel purchase.
How do I know how much my logo will cost?
For a more in-depth answer to this question, check out our Custom Embroidery Pricing Guide.
There are basically two different methods to price custom logo embroidery:
1. Stitch Count
With the Stitch Count method, the price is determined by the number of stitches it takes to create an image in embroidery. The theory is the more stitches it takes, the longer it is on the embroidery machine and therefore it would cost more.
Sometimes you will see this pricing method presented as “$1 per thousand stitches.” In this formula, a logo with 10,000 stitches would cost $10 to embroider on a shirt.
Part of the buying decision for customers is figuring out the price of an item. Some companies make this very complicated. For example, this is the embroidery pricing found on a competitor’s website.
Custom embroidered apparel or cap prices include up to 6 colors per logo, up to 10,000 stitches for the 1st logo, and up to 5,000 stitches for additional embroidery locations.
$0.35 for every 1,000 stitches exceeding 10,000 stitches, per piece* (regardless of quantity purchased)
What happens if my design has 7 colors in it? Then what is the price?
I am in the business, and I am not sure I understand how to calculate what the price would be. I can’t imagine if I were a customer just wanting a few polo shirts for my company, this would make sense.
Pricing by stitch count has its advantages. For the embroidery shop, it is a very accurate way to cover the theoretical cost of production.
But there are two very distinct disadvantages with a stitch count pricing method. The only way to actually know the stitch count, and therefore the price, is to have the logo set up or digitized. That can be a time-consuming process—it may even take a day or two. How does that pricing method make it easy for a customer to make a buying decision?
Secondly, the customer really has no idea how many stitches it takes to create their logo. Only the embroidery shop knows the true number, so this method is less than transparent. Information is power and in this case the customer has no information or power in this transaction.
2. Flat Pricing Method
The other pricing method is one that we at Thread Logic have employed since the start of our company. It is a flat pricing method.
Under this method, the cost for the custom embroidery of a logo is a flat fee, and it is not determined by the stitch count. This makes it much easier for the customer to understand when making a decision about logo-embroidered apparel.
In fact, we take it one step further; we include the cost of logo embroidery right in with the cost of the item that is to be embroidered. It is a very easy and transparent way for customers to make a quick and educated buying decision.
Every item on our website includes the embroidery of the logo. It’s that simple. No need for a quote. No need to figure out stitch counts.
Flat pricing for custom logo apparel takes away all the disadvantages of pricing by stitch count.
So why don’t more embroidery shops use this method? That is a good question. The answer lies in the old traditions and practices of the industry. Pricing by stitch count has been around for decades and is a commonly accepted practice within the industry. It is driven by a cost accounting philosophy of pricing and not a customer-friendly philosophy.
The flat pricing model is something we have used at Thread Logic from the time we started the company. The feedback we get from customers on it has been very positive for the reasons stated above. I would dare say it is one of the best marketing decisions we have ever made.
We hope these answers from Thread Logic's embroidery expert have helped demystify the custom embroidery process. When you're ready to order high-quality embroidered apparel, hats, and more, we'll be happy to help!