If you work in the embroidery industry, you know that a quality final stitch-out starts long before the needle touches the apparel. It all comes down to the digital file quality. This is why professional embroidery digitizing is teamed with an expert that already has digital stitch-out experience. Choosing one service provider is a big decision for your quality and your bottom line. Going with a cheap, automated service can end up costing you thread, fabric, and time in fixing the poorly digitized design if needed. To ensure you are using a provider to get true professional results, ask these five questions before hiring to work with an embroidery digitizing service provider.
1. Can I See a Portfolio That Includes Stitch-Outs and Source Art?
Any company can post digital renderings of the designs they digitized as proof, but the real proof is in the finished embroidery product. Ask to see a piece of artwork/digital trade and a photo of the physical stitch-out on the fabric, not just a digital rendering. With this simple request for a finished photo, you will get a more complete picture of their skill level.
Specifically, look for samples that represent various complexities, small text, fine details, and different types of stitching (satin versus fill). A high-quality embroidery digitizing service provider knows how to appropriately adjust stitch density and underlay to manage puckering and maintain the integrity of the design. Finally, when you feel comfortable moving forward with their service, their portfolio is the strongest documentation of a reputable embroidered digitizing service provider.
2. How do you approach different fabric types or types of garments?
This is an important and often overlooked question. A logo that stitches out perfectly on a thick pair of denim jackets will be a complete mess on a light, stretchy polo shirt without the digitizer adjusting their work. Each fabric requires a custom treatment when dealing with stitch density, underlay, and pull compensation.
A great embroidery digitizing service provider will always ask you about the final application (what type of fabric: cotton, fleece, or performance apparel). They will demonstrate their expertise when they respond with specifics, such as “I will have to add more underlay for unstable fabrics” or “I will reduce your density through the thicker areas.” This is what separates an average service from an exceptional embroidery digitizing service.
3. What Are Your Terms for Revisions and Changes?
Mistakes sometimes can happen, or sometimes, a client simply changes their mind after seeing the test stitch. A professional embroidery digitizing service should have a clear and reasonable policy regarding changes to their quoted price. You can ask the following:
- How many changes does the service include at no additional cost?
- What is the turnaround time for this service?
- Is there a significant difference in cost for “major” versus “minor” changes?
To be clear, you want a provider who is willing to collaborate with you to hone the design specifically for your machine and material. Most importantly, a reputable embroidery digitizing service provider backs up their work and allows for a reasonable amount of changes without causing anxiety, financially or personally. This is a huge factor above other aspects of your embroidery digitizing service that will affect the success of your long-term relationship.
4. What is your normal turnaround time?
Most importantly, time is money when wondering where you stitch out or stash with (em) stitching something that a client is ordering. Knowing why, where, or when you will get the file will be extremely helpful for royalty, discovery, and rate of production for all parties involved, customers, stores to orders, and customers’ requests. In addition, most reputable companies offer a two-tier method of service with a standard 24-hour staffing and/or standard expedited service at a higher fee.
Ensure that their claimed turnaround times are realistic and consistent. Find out about their communication protocol if an unforeseen delay happens.
5. What file formats do you deliver, and do you use manual or auto-digitizing?
The file format is important. Your embroidery machine needs one type of file, again, such as a DST, PES, EXP, etc. The embroidery digitizing service should be able to provide the file you require.
Finally, possibly most importantly: always double-check that they do manual embroidery digitizing. Converting the files using automatic or “auto-digitized” embroidery digitizing software is notorious for poor stitch quality, too many thread trims, and puckering. A professional embroidery digitizing service provider utilizes their talents and judgment to produce the file stitch by stitch. This is the only way to achieve a quality and beautiful finished product.
By asking these detail-oriented questions, you’ll better be able to select an embroidery digitizing service that you can count on to consistently deliver the quality that your business requires.
