Embroidery digitizing
Embroidery digitizing turns your logo or artwork into a stitch file your embroidery machine can run. We plan every stitch — the underlay, stitch types, density, pull compensation and running order — so the design sews out cleanly on the garment, cap or patch it is meant for, instead of puckering, gapping or losing its small text.
| Price | Quoted per design — send your artwork for a price |
| What you get | A machine-ready stitch file in your format, plus a stitch-out preview |
| File formats | DST, PES, EXP, JEF, VP3, XXX and other common machine formats |
| Proof | You approve a stitch-out preview before the final file is sent |
| Delivery | By email — nothing to ship |
Why digitizing matters
A stitch file is not a picture. Thread has thickness, fabric stretches and every needle penetration pulls the material slightly, so an auto-converted image almost always sews badly. A digitizer decides how each shape is filled, which direction the stitches run, what sits underneath them and in what order the machine moves, so the finished embroidery matches the artwork.
Good digitizing is also matched to the item. A design for a structured cap front, a stretchy polo, a fleece hoodie or a twill patch needs different density and underlay, which is why we ask what the design will be sewn on.
What we digitize
- Left chest logos for polos, shirts and workwear
- Cap fronts, sides and backs, including 3D puff
- Jacket backs and large designs
- Patches and badges, with the border planned in
- Names, monograms and small text
- Existing files that sew badly and need fixing or resizing
File formats
Tell us your machine brand or the format you need and we supply the file in it.
| Format | Used by |
|---|---|
| DST | Tajima and most commercial multi-head machines |
| PES | Brother and Baby Lock |
| EXP | Melco and Bernina |
| JEF | Janome |
| VP3 | Husqvarna Viking and Pfaff |
| XXX | Singer |
What to send us
- Your artwork — a vector file is best, but a clear JPG or PNG works
- The finished size, in inches or millimetres
- What it will be sewn on (cap, polo, hoodie, patch, towel)
- Your machine format
- Thread colours, if you have them
How it works
- Send your artwork and details through the form below
- We confirm the price before any work starts
- We digitize the design and send a stitch-out preview
- You approve, or ask for changes
- We email the final file in your format
Common questions
How much does embroidery digitizing cost?
Digitizing is priced per design. Size, stitch count and complexity drive the price, so a small left chest logo costs less than a full jacket back. Send your artwork for a quote.
Can you fix a file that sews badly?
Yes. Send the file and a photo of the sew-out if you have one. Often the density, underlay or pull compensation needs reworking, and sometimes the design is cleaner redigitized from scratch.
Can I resize a stitch file myself?
Small changes of around 10 to 15 percent usually sew fine. Bigger changes alter stitch length and density and normally need the design adjusting by a digitizer.
Do I need digitizing if you are making my patches?
No. When we make your patches or apparel, digitizing is part of producing the order. This service is for customers who run their own embroidery machines and need the stitch file.
Get a free quote
Send us your artwork, the finished size, what it will be sewn on and your machine format. Choose “Embroidery digitizing” as the product and we will come back with a price. If you cannot attach artwork here, email it to hello@sewwhatembroiderydesigns.com.
Related reading
- Vector art conversion — clean artwork before it is digitized
- 3D puff embroidery — raised embroidery for caps
- Custom embroidered patches — digitizing included
- How embroidered patches are made