Embroidery Roadblocks – Saving Money on Embroidery
May 11th 2010 Posted at General
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Although technology has come a long way, it can still be difficult to determine if your logo can be embroidered or not. Here are some guidelines to help you when you want to have something embroidered.
1. Text. Too much text can be a nightmare, not to mention it can get very expensive. Most embroidery is done in a chest location or on the front of a hat. If you have too much text, consider simplifying it.
Text should be a minimum of .25 inches tall. If a chest logo averages at 3-4 inches wide and the maximum area on a hat is 2.25 inches tall, you can see how quickly the space will be used up with the minimum text height. If you HAVE to use a lot of text, talk with your embroider about the “embroidery friendly” fonts they use most often and consider changing to that font. Fonts that DO NOT have serifs work best.
2. Color and Complexity. Artwork that has a lot of fine detail is an embroidery no-no. Again, consider the size restrictions you’ll have for your design. Most embroiders will allow 5 colors without additional fees; if you can simplify your artwork to meet this requirement, you’ll be much happier when your bill arrives. The thread count that your artwork requires also determines how much you pay, again, less detail and colors will save you money and you can still have a very nice look to your embroidered garment.
3. Fabric/Garment Selection. They type of fabric to be embroidered can also determine how nice or how bad the embroidery looks. In general, a medium weight fabric that is “smooth” is going to be your friend. Rough and/or textured fabrics may cause issues. Microfiber shirts and jackets and woven/poplin dress shirts seem to work very well. Waffle knit shirts, again, due to the texture issue, may be a challenge.
So to recap… limit text, simplify wherever possible, keep your colors to 3-5 maximum and select a embroidery friendly fabric.
Another thing to keep in mind is that your first order is going to be the most expensive. You’ll be paying for the digitizing fee (this is where they take your artwork and make it ready for the embroidery machines) with the first order. Try to order no less than 12-18 garments at a time, some places will have a higher minimum, shop around for what works for you