Understanding Fonts

Need a particular font for your custom embroidered logo? No problem – it can be digitized. What is digitizing? Digitizing is the process of translating a true type font into stitch format so it can be embroidered. But, there may be a digitizing fee depending on how many items you order. Want to avoid this cost? Ask your embroiderer to show you their stock fonts and you might find something close that will work just fine and you’ll be able to avoid a digitizing fee.

Pick Your Favorite Font!

In addition to being able to resize a stock embroidery font, the fonts can be kerned, slanted, spaced, lengthened, widened and sometimes thickened to customize a basic font. Often when you request embroidery with stock text your embroiderer will show you a few possible fonts so you can pick your favorite for your custom embroidered shirts!

What Is A Stock Embroidery Font?

A stock embroidery font is a font that your embroiderer has in his embroidery software. Unlike a true type font that is suitable for printing, an embroidery font has been set-up for embroidery and consists of stitches. Most embroiderers have a collection of fonts including script, block, serif and specialty fonts. In addition, there are fonts for extra small and large lettering. Stock fonts are great for adding text to a stock design, names, numbers and “text only” logos.

PMS Matching: Shirts and Trade Booths

Recently a customer asked a good question about PMS matching. The request was for Custom Embroidered Polo Shirts that would match the same PMS color as a trade show booth. Is this possible? Yes. Is it practical? Not really. While it is often possible to find the PMS (Pantone Matching System) color of a fabric, the closest match to a fabric is a textile PMS color. With an item such as a trade show booth most likely you‘re using a different type of substrate (not fabric) so you’ll have to match the two items using the general PMS color against the textile PMS color and they might not match exactly. Another issue is that fabrics are washed and may loose some dye (fade) and not match after extended use. Also, different materials can appear to look different under different types of light because some materials will reflect light while other substrates will absorb it. Given all the variables how should you proceed? Find your shirts first and have your booth made to match the shirts.