Embroidery from your own drawing: what to keep and what to simplify

Select the item that gives the drawing character

Take a look at the design and point out its most important feature: face contour, animal silhouette, cereal layout or distinctive inscription. This is the element that should survive the simplification. Small background shadowing may be less important than a few lines correctly conducted.

For example, a sketch of a cat can be developed as a delicate contour or as a more filled character. The first variant retains the lightness of the drawing, the second allows you to mark the stains more strongly. There is no need to move every single hair to make the motive recognizable.

Picture of embroidery is not a embroidery program

The PNG, JPG or SVG file helps determine the appearance, but does not describe all machine movements in itself. You need to develop a embroidery program. Among other things, the directions of stitches, the foundation, the order of elements and the way of threading are important.

It is not worth promising the price only on the basis of the surface of the rectangle surrounding the drawing. Two themes of the same width may differ in filling, number of details and labour intensity. With complicated illustration, the scope of the study must be assessed first.

Which usually requires simplification

• Very small letters and tight spaces inside the characters.
• Many almost identical shades, which on a small surface do not create a clear difference.
• Thin, densely intersecting lines and tiny isolated fragments.
• Photographic tonal transitions and luminous effects generated by computer.

Instead of removing the details randomly, prepare a simplified variant and compare it with the original in the target size. If the illustration is based on subtle painting shades, it is worth considering in parallel DTF printing.

Material and thread change possibilities

Smooth knit, thicker sweatshirt and polar do not behave identically. The design shall be assessed on a specific product. The density of embroidery should not be chosen according to the principle "the more threads, the better." Too intense filling can unnecessarily stiffen a small motive.

Madeira thread manufacturer indicates that density selection depends, among others, on thread thickness and design settings; see Madeira density guide. In turn Melco tips for small letters show why a small inscription requires separate production decisions. There is no one minimum dimension good for all fonts and fabrics.

How to ask for a fair valuation

Send a drawing, planned width, number of pieces and clothing model. Select which details are necessary and which can be simplified. Ask separately about cost of clothing, cost of embroidery on the art and possible one-off cost of developing the program and sample.

With a demanding recital, it is worth agreeing a trial production before the whole series. A computer preview helps to approve the composition, but does not replace the evaluation of thread on the material. More about the service itself can be found on the website computer embroidery.