What file format does my logo need for embroidery?

Send a vector file if you have one — SVG or PDF — and a high-resolution PNG if you don't. Either digitizes cleanly for embroidery. A JPEG screenshot off your website will usually work too; it just means our digitizer redraws the shapes by hand before converting them to stitches. Every logo gets digitized in-house regardless of format, so the file type affects our prep time more than your final quality.

Why do vector files work best?

Embroidery machines do not print pixels — they sew paths. A vector file (SVG, PDF, AI) already describes your logo as paths and exact colors, so the digitizer maps shapes directly to stitch types: satin stitches for outlines and text, fill stitches for solid areas. From a raster file we trace those paths manually first. The result is the same; the vector just skips a step.

What resolution does a PNG need?

At least 1,000 pixels on the long side, on a transparent or plain background. The digitizer needs to see clean edges — a 200px favicon blown up is guesswork, a 2000px export from Canva or your designer is plenty.

What is digitizing, exactly?

Digitizing converts artwork into a stitch file — the literal sequence of needle movements, densities, underlay, and pull compensation for the curved front of a cap. It is a craft: the same logo digitized badly puckers and gaps; digitized well it sits flat and crisp at 7,000 stitches. We digitize in-house in Webster, TX ($20 per design under 24 hats, free at 24+, never charged on reorders) and you approve a photo-real proof before anything gets stitched.

What about small text in my logo?

Embroidered text under about 4.5mm tall (roughly 0.18") starts losing legibility — thread has physical width. If your logo has a tagline in 6pt type, expect us to suggest enlarging it, dropping it, or moving it to a second location. The proof shows you exactly how it will read before you commit.

What if I only have an idea, not a file?

Type it in the order notes. Text-only designs (a name, a brand wordmark in a standard font) do not need artwork at all — describe what you want and check the proof. For anything more involved, the quote form takes a description and we will tell you what is realistic before you spend anything.

Quick checklist before you upload

• Vector (SVG/PDF) if you have it — otherwise PNG at 1,000px+
• Transparent or plain background
• No drop shadows or gradients — thread does neither; we will flatten them with you on the proof
• Tell us your thread colors, or say "match my logo" and we pull them from the file