Logo Colors

You've had your logo designed and it looks great.  You decide to order custom embroidered polo shirts but before  placing your order you realise that you forgot to consider possible shirt colors when having your logo designed.  You know white shirts will work but you'd prefer a darker color. You really want black shirts but black is a color in your logo.  Can the black in your logo be changed to white so you can choose black shirts? The easy answer is "Yes" but there are issues to consider.

Resize Your Embroidered Logo?

Changing the size of an embroidered design is easy right?  No!  Sometimes a logo can be adjusted 10-20% but usually an embroidered design needs to be redigitied when a significant size change is necessary.  For example, lets say you have a logo that's set-up for custom embroidered hats.  Some of the text is small but the logo looks good.  Can it be resized for a visor?  Most likely not.  Although the width for a hat design is the same as a visor the height isn't.  While a hat design is 2" high a visor is only 1" high.  Unless your hat logo is 1" high or less you won't be able to resize the log for visors without making adjustments such as eliminating small text and other unessential details.

Limit Your Designs

When digitizing, what you see in your digitizing software doesn't always embroider in the same size or shape. Text and shapes must be adjusted to compensate for the "push and pull" in embroidery. How will you learn these skills without a machine? There are many concepts to learn before a digitizer can create nice-looking designs that run well. Rather than trying to digitize your own designs limit the number of designs you'll start with and have an experienced digitizer set-up those designs. Instead of spending time and money on embroidery software use those resources to market your product.

Set-Up Your Own Embroidered Designs?

You’ve decided to create your own line of embroidered clothing. You’ll start with at least ten different embroidered designs but you plan to create over a hundred. You call a few embroiderers to see what the cost is to have samples made. After reviewing your quotes you realize that the digitizing fees (set-up fees) seem too costly - $25.00 to $100.00 for a small embroidered design. Why so expensive?

Considering that you’re fairly proficient with Photoshop should you purchase embroidery software to set-up your own designs? No! In addition to the software cost which can be $2,000 or more it takes at least two years of full-time practice to become an average digitizer. You can take classes but watching an embroidery machine run well-digitized designs is the best way to learn how to digitize. How will you do that without a machine?

SMX Marketing Event!

This week I’m stepping aside from my usual discussion about custom embroidered shirts because I want to tell you about an exciting event –The SMX Search Marketing Expo, held October 6-8th at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. If you’re involved in online marketing you won’t want to miss this thrilling event packed with thought-provoking speakers, on-point seminars and essential networking opportunities. See you there!

Logo Sizing?

You’re creating artwork for your custom embroidered polo shirts and hats. What size should your logo be for a left chest logo? How about for the back of a hat? Here’s a sizing list:

Left/ right chest logo – 3.5” – 3.75” (may be 3.25” to 4” depending on the logo)

Hat Front - 4” wide x 2” high (some vertically orientated designs may be up to 2 ½” high)

Hat Back – a web address, location or short tag line arced around the keyhole opening works best

Hat Side - 2” x 2”

Visors - 4” wide x 1” high

Jacket Back - 10” to 12” wide or high (can be more for larger jackets)

Shirt Back - 6” wide (web address)

Names - size to work with corresponding logo

Children’s - size in proportion to garment

Embroidered Polo Shirt Shrinkage

Follow these tips to reduce custom embroidered polo shirt shrinkage:

1. Select polo shirts made from a cotton/polyester blend, 100% polyester or a preshrunk cotton fabric.

2. Avoid washing in hot water and drying in a hot dryer. Dry fewer shirts at a time to lessen dryer time or line dry.


How much will 100% cotton polos shrink? 100% cotton polos can shrink 10% - 20% of the shirt size. Therefore, expect more shrinkage with larger sizes.