Your Embroidered Logo: Will a Picture Work?

Your former embroiderer retired and you"re unable to obtain your existing embroidery machine file. You want to order shirts from a new embroiderer but, you don't have a digital file of your logo because your original embroiderer created your logo without using artwork.  Wondering if a photograph of your existing shirts will work?

Possibly. If your design is very simple (just text for example) and you can take a clear picture from directly above then a photograph might serve as a template for your embroidery set-up. But, if your design is more detailed and your image is unclear or distorted then it may not work for your set-up. In that case it might be better to have artwork created from a photograph.  Then you can spend time carefully proofing and revising your artwork before continuing with your embroidery set-up.

Your Embroidered Logo: Advertise Wherever You Go!

Running errands? Don't forget to wear your sweatshirt embroidered with your business logo. Stopping at the grocery store? Bring your grocery bags printed with your logo. Going to the football game? You'll need your embroidered beanie and fleece blanket. Catching a soccer match? Wear your embroidered polar fleece jacket. Don't miss an opportunity to advertise your business wherever you go!

Your Embroidered Logo: Design Your Business Logo

Designing your own business logo? Keep it simple, unique, memorable and appropriate for your business. Here are some tips:

• Need inspiration?  View logo images online.  Don't copy anything but note how well-known logos are constructed, how much detail they contain and why certain logos catch your attention. 
• Design your logo at the correct size for an embroidered left chest logo. Work within a 2.5" - 4" wide / high space and you'll be less likely to create a logo with too many details, incorrect proportions and text that's too small. Many people make the mistake of designing on a larger scale and when their logo is downsized they realize they've included too much information and some of the text is too small.
• Pick a font for your business name that works for an embroidered logo. Avoid fonts with narrow columns or cut-out areas.Want to make a bold statement? Pick a bold font. A refined impression? Choose a readable script. High tech? Pick a modern-looking font. Unless your business name is short you'll want it to extend the full length of your logo width (2.5" - 4" wide). Have tag line text? Choose a simple font such as a block that works with your business name font.
• View your logo against other background colors in addition to white before finalizing your logo colors unless you plan to only wear white shirts.
• Design your logo, print it to scale, tape it on to a shirt and stand three feet away.  Is it readable? Does it appeal to your customers? Does it represent your type of business and how you do business?

Make changes, put your logo aside for a few days then review it again.  Get additional opinions from people who will provide an honest answer.

Your Embroidered Logo: When Printing is Better Option...

While most items look great with an embroidered logo there are times when having your logo printed will produce a better effect.  Let's say you want a small quantity of T's decorated with a large multi-colored design. The design is too large to be embroidered on a light-weight T-shirt so printing is a better option.  But, it will be expensive to have a multi-colored design screen printed on a small number of T's and it may be hard to locate a printer who will print a small quantity.  Is there another option? Yes - direct garment printing!

Direct garment printing is a process that allows you to have a few shirts printed without having to pay for screen charges and meet typical screen printing quantity minimums. The resulting print looks like screen printing except depending on the type of garment printer, white ink might not look as white when printed on dark-colored shirts. The per shirt cost will be slightly more than a screen printed shirt but there won't be any screen charges which would be expensive for a multi-colored screen printed design. To find a decorator who offers this type of printing ask the printer if they have "direct garment printing".