Digitizing is the conversion of a logo or design into a data format that embroidery machines understand. Every line, curve and filled area must be defined so that the embroidery machine can "read" it. Some designs cannot be digitized without modifing the original design.

We need you to supply the original artwork for your logo or design, unless you choose one of our stock designs. The only exception to this is standard stock lettering. We can work from an exact image close to the correct size. The artwork can be supplied in several formats, including bitmap, jpg, gif or PDF. We prefer submission of artwork to be in PDF format, as that allows us to produce a sharper image for the digitizing software to work with.

If you do not have an exact logo we must charge you an artwork/digitizing fee to design the new logo for you.

If you already have a digitized logo, we may be able to use it. We must know the exact format that was used to digitize the logo. If the format is one that we can read, we can use it. This does not mean that it can automatically be modified in any way. Some digitizing formats do not allow enlargement, reduction or modification.

The size of the sewing area available for embroidery depends on the design and material. Most designs for monograms are 3.5"x3.5" or 4"x4". The largest area possible we can embroider is 5"x7". 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.

We have thousands of stock designs available and resources to find nearly any design you have in mind. You can add lettering to these designs to customize them to your specific needs.

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. Multi-coloring is not available in very small letters.

How detailed can you make a design? Details are limited by the size of the thread and needles. Very small detail areas 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. We will always contact you about the design you want to have digitized BEFORE we do any digitizing to let you know the options available to you.

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 submitted to us.

Most of the time, we will not charge a digitizing fee if you are purchasing from us the items that are to be embroidered....i.e. shirts, towels, etc. Fees can only be determined once we have your artwork in hand and can determine the time that will be required to digitize the design.

We can sew most clothing materials. We do not sew thick materials like leather or plastic as it is very hard on the embroidery machines. We do not sew items with cardboard backing.

If you have any questions about digitizing that we have not addressed here, please feel free to contact us!