Embroidery looks simple from the outside. You pick a logo, a machine stitches it, done. In reality, there is an important step in between called digitising. It is the reason an embroiderer cannot just take your PNG and press start. This guide explains what embroidery digitising is, the file types involved, what it costs and how to get the best result.
What is embroidery digitising?
Digitising is the process of turning artwork into a set of stitching instructions an embroidery machine can follow. The digitiser decides:
- Stitch types. Satin stitches for borders and lettering, fill stitches for large areas, and running stitches for fine lines and details.
- Stitch direction and density. This affects how the design catches light and how firm it feels.
- Underlay. A base layer of stitches that stabilises the fabric and helps the top stitches sit neatly.
- Pull compensation. Thread pulls fabric inwards as it stitches, so shapes are adjusted to finish at the right size.
- Stitch order and colour changes. A good sequence reduces jumps, trims and thread breaks.
It is skilled work. Two digitisers can take the same logo and produce files that stitch very differently.
Why a PNG is not enough
A PNG or JPG is a grid of coloured pixels. It says nothing about which way thread should run, how dense it should be or what order the colours go in. An embroidery machine needs those instructions, so the image has to be rebuilt as stitches.
Auto digitising software exists, but it tends to struggle with anything beyond very simple shapes. Common problems include puckered fabric, gaps between colours, stiff patches that feel like cardboard, and small text that turns into a blob.
Some designs also need simplifying before they can be stitched. Thread has a physical width, so very fine detail, tiny text, gradients and photo effects do not translate. As a rough guide, lettering smaller than about 5mm high is hard to stitch cleanly. A clean vector logo makes the job easier, so if yours is blurry, start with how to vectorise a logo.
Embroidery file types
Different machine brands read different formats. The most common ones you will hear about:
| Format | Used by | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DST | Tajima and most commercial machines | The most widely accepted machine file. Stores stitches but not true colour information. |
| PES | Brother and Babylock | Common on home and small business machines. |
| EXP | Melco and Bernina | Machine file used by several commercial brands. |
| EMB | Wilcom software | An editable working file. Handy for future changes. |
| JEF | Janome | Home machine format. |
Machine files like DST are hard to edit well. If you want to resize a design a lot later, it is better to go back to the working file and have it adjusted, rather than scaling the DST.
How much does embroidery digitising cost?
Across the industry, digitising is usually priced one of two ways: a flat fee by design size, or by stitch count. Small left chest logos cost less. Large back designs, detailed badges and anything with lots of colours or small text cost more, because they take longer to digitise and test. Most shops charge digitising once per design, so you only pay again if the design or size changes.
At Mocked Up, embroidery digitising starts from $30 for logo-size designs, and larger designs are quoted. You receive EMB, DST, PES and EXP files with a thread colour chart and stitch count. A proof arrives within 2 business days, 2 rounds of changes are included, you own the design, and payment is upfront.
If you are ordering embroidered apparel from us, embroidery is a +$30 add-on per item, with a one-off $30 embroidery setup. Embroidery covers designs up to about 10cm on the chest, cap front or sleeve.
Tips for a better stitch-out
- Keep it bold. Thick lines and simple shapes stitch best.
- Limit colours. Every colour is a thread change. Fewer colours often look cleaner.
- Size it first. Tell the digitiser the final size. A logo digitised for a cap front is not the same as one for a jacket back.
- Think about the fabric. Stretchy knits, fleece and caps all behave differently. Mention what it is going on.
- Consider print instead. Photos, gradients and fine detail usually suit DTF better. See what DTF printing is.
Need it done?
Send your logo to our embroidery digitising service for machine-ready files, or add embroidery straight onto custom apparel and custom hoodies.