What are the design requirements for embroidery?
Unlike DTG and AOP printing, embroidery has specific design requirements due to the limitations of embroidery machines and threading techniques. To achieve the best results, make sure to follow the recommended design dos and don’ts listed below. Following these important requirements will ensure that the finished product matches the mockup preview.
Note
The final embroidered product may differ from the mockup shown in the Product Creator, as it provides only a visual impression of the digitized file and cannot guarantee design approval or an exact match in every detail.
Size requirements
- Minimum text height:
0.25” (6.35 mm) - Minimum thickness of lines:
0.05” (1.27 mm) - Shape thickness range:
0.05” (1.27mm) - 0.5” (12.7mm)
Design do’s
- Use solid shapes and colors.
- Stick to the 14 supported thread colors.
- Ensure your file is of high-quality. Aim for 300 DPI if using a JPEG/PNG file. For hats, use a file with a resolution of at least 1200 × 675 pixels.
- Simplify the design as much as possible. The best outcome will be achieved if the design is simple.
- If you’re using text for your design, we recommend choosing thicker font styles, such as Arial, Helvetica, Myriad Pro.
Note
Embroidery machines will automatically center the design within the embroidery area, regardless of its position in the uploaded file.
Design don’ts
- Avoid using gradients or blend effects; instead opt for solid shapes and colors.
- Avoid small gaps and negative space. Any remaining small areas will be automatically filled in as part of the digitization process.
- Avoid using photographs, as photographic images with multiple color requirements cannot be accurately reproduced using embroidery.
- Avoid designs with backgrounds, as they will be removed during the digitization process.
- Avoid using small letters. Any text smaller than 0.25” (6.35mm or 18pt) will either be enlarged or excluded from the design altogether during the digitization phase.
- Avoid incorporating thin lines into the design. If thin lines are necessary as a design element, ensure they meet the minimum thickness requirement of 0.05” (1.27 mm).
- Avoid using distressed or textured designs, as they may compromise the quality of the embroidery print due to limitations in line thickness.
Embroidery products are set up and made differently than other Printify products, which is why we recommend ordering a sample before you launch the product in your store. This way, you’ll have full confidence in the product before offering it to customers.