What is digitization?

Written by

Sabrina Barnes

Digitization is the process of converting artwork into a stitch file that an embroidery machine can use to sew onto a garment. This process needs to take place before any design can be embroidered.

When a product is ordered for the first time, the design will undergo the digitization process. However, for subsequent orders, this step will be skipped since the file will already be digitized and available in our system for that specific product type. The digitization process can take up to 36 hours and is calculated separately from the standard production time.

For example, if you’re ordering an embroidery product for the first time, the production time will be as follows: up to 36 hours for the digitization process, plus the production time, which varies from 2 to 7 business days depending on the Print Provider. You can check the current production times for each provider by visiting our network fulfillment status page.

Note

If you use the same design for products with differently sized embroidery areas or make any changes to your current artwork—including resizing, repositioning, or rotating—the design will need to be re-digitized, which may take up to 36 hours. We recommend holding off on placing new orders while the updated file is being digitized to ensure the new design adheres to the embroidery design guidelines and is successfully digitized.

Can I use my own digitized file for embroidery?

Due to the varying technical specifications of embroidery machines and the quality variations in third-party digitized files, we do not accept previously digitized files. Your submitted design file (JPEG, PNG, or SVG file) will be digitized once uploaded to the Product Creator.

What happens if digitization is successful?

If your design digitization is successful, your order will proceed to production as usual.

What happens if digitization fails?

If digitization fails, your order will be placed “On Hold”, and we will inform you via email. This typically means that the uploaded design did not meet our embroidery requirements. In such cases, you will need to adjust or replace the design to meet our design requirements and resubmit the order. If digitization is successful after resubmitting, your order will proceed to production as usual.

What should I do if I need to update the design for my embroidery product?

Note

Any changes to the artwork—including resizing, repositioning, or rotating—will require the design to be re-digitized, which may take up to 36 hours. We recommend holding off on placing new orders while the updated file is being digitized to ensure the new design adheres to the embroidery design guidelines and is successfully digitized.

If you need to make minor changes to your design—such as adjusting a line, word, or changing a color from dark blue to a lighter shade—you can easily edit the product by clicking the paintbrush icon next to it on the My Products page. After making the changes, you'll need to republish the product with the updated design to your sales channel.

However, if your planned changes are more significant (e.g., altering the entire design), we recommend creating a completely new product.

Please keep in mind that once you submit an order with the embroidery product, the design cannot be changed or edited for that order.

Note

Due to stitch count limits and embroidery line restrictions, the final embroidered product may differ from the mockup shown in the Product Creator. This mockup provides only a visual impression of the digitized file and cannot guarantee design approval or an exact match in every detail. We recommend ordering a sample before adding embroidery products to your store. This will confirm successful digitization of your design and give you full confidence in the product’s quality before offering it to customers.