|
|
| Digitizing (also see our embroidery FAQ)
Digitizing for embroidery is the art of creating embroidery files for the computerized embroidery machine. Sometimes still called "punching," digitizing involves many steps and adjustments.
The most common case is digitizing a logo for garments. When a client gives us a logo to digitize for embroidery, we first determine what kinds of garments the logo will go on. Denim shirts and polar fleece vests react very differently to embroidery, and so have very different requirements. Next, we may simplify the logo for optimal final appearance. What looks good on a business card may not work in thread. While a printing press may print at 1200 dots per inch, embroidery is generally 64 to 72 threads per inch; the fine detail possible in print is going to look vastly different when transferred to thread.
|
| Here is an example of a logo simplified and digitized.
 The logo as sent by the client is an image of a sign design. The lettering has a black outline which also functions as a drop shadow, and the sign is painted with a gradient from white at the top to light green below. The graphic of the spine is smoothly graded from purple on the left to magenta on the right.
|
 For digitizing, we simplified the design. Since the logo would go on a left chest on fleece, lots of detail was not possible. We made the oval shape a uniform green similar to a shade around midpoint in the gradient from white to green, and gave it a thin satin border.
The solidity of the fill on the fleece made detail around the letters problematic; we considered the black outline and rejected it.
We chose three colors to create the gradient from purple to magenta in the spine graphic. Instead of actually fading them by varying overlaid fills, we gave three sections of the spine each a solid color. The visual effect of the finished piece is very much like the sign.
The client is very happy with the finished product. She feels it represents her look perfectly, even though it is not an exact reproduction.
|
|
