Embroidery Digitizing: custom small lettering tips?

Aqua · September 13th, 2011, 09:52 AM

I have a client insisting I do 3mm (0.11 inches) high lettering. they have sent me a picture of this... so it has been done!

any advice?

xxyybeth · September 14th, 2011, 06:24 AM

Lettering under .25 is challenging. WYSIWYG on screen is not true with lettering.
Some Things that can help:
Edit, Tweak Node placement, pulling out sharp corner that wants to cave, E, F, N.s etc, Open up gaps, especially A, E e, O's etc.
Reduce Column Width.
Decrease Stitch Spacing, (decrease space between stitches, so they lay snuggly next to each other).
Use Ceter Run Underlay, sometimes to layers or none at all in some cases.
If you have it, Use Wire Frame Tool/Feature to view Y Height alingment, O, C, S's etc. The on screen 3D view is different view than actual, WYSINWYG.
I've been told smaller needles, size 69 (But pain to thread and to switch over if multi heads. I don't, just tweak until crisp small lettering is achieved at test sew out using standard size 70).
If customer brings you sample of successful sew out they want duplicated, only agree if same fabric is purchased. Sample they want duplicated may have came from piece work, sewn before assembled, maybe it's impossible to hoop the finished garment correctly (heavy seams, etc)and obtain that same end result on an assembled product?
Twills, tightly Woven Dense Fabric, best match for tiny crisp lettering.
Avoid attemps on loosly woven Piques, ....try and up sale another type of fabric, same color/style but better suited for their logo.

Obtain a variety of fabrics (resale shop or ask friends to save stained, ripped, items, etc.) Practice! Know your limitations!
If really frustrated, pay an experienced digitizer to do it, then learn from it, see their property settings that indeed achieved your goal, try to duplicate, you'll eventually get it right.

Happy Embroidering!!!

nametags · September 14th, 2011, 07:48 AM

Great post! Great advice! I'll try it all this week.

Brian Burr · September 16th, 2011, 08:00 PM

As a policy in our production facility we require all letters to be at least .25 inches tall or you will continue having registration issues. Yes the letters will look okay in your digitizing program but what you see is not what you get in this case. I would suggest not trying to reinvent the wheel and stick to the basics in 101 digitizing keeping letters .25 of an inch tall.

megrisoft · September 19th, 2011, 06:14 AM

Select appropriate fonts and zigzag underlay can help in small text

Flint54 · September 22nd, 2011, 08:22 AM

Non Serif Fonts, CENTER Line Underlay, #40 Thread decrease density, no stitches under.04" or 1.2mm or you will experience thread breaks & hook shearing your thread, slow down speed, 2.0 oz backing, polymesh backing if light fabric, use 69 needle even with #40 thread but get Madeira #60 thread for best results, use a topping, small lettering will be very difficult on thick fabric but works well on twills etc.. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE & then you will need more PRACTICE.

Small Lettering is an art unto itself!

mary52asap · October 5th, 2011, 09:49 AM

Always check the information about the font you are choosing. That can be foun under Help at the top of your screen. The description will tell you the range of sizes within which your font will sew nicely. There are some small fonts-and those are in a category by themselves, at least in Pulse they are. Good luck. If you get good at it, you can handle anything!!!

arrowembroidery · October 8th, 2011, 02:03 PM

As a rule of thumb, always remember, when you reduce the font size by one-fourth of an inch (that's 0.25" as a fellow stated above) you're asking for trouble. Each font has its own sizing, so see that on your help menu.

Pearcarl · October 14th, 2011, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodney

whoops! that should have been "I'm not digitizing it for a customer or anything". There is no artwork Scotty I'm just playing around doing only letters. No logo or anything like that.

Yes you're right. I've decided not to learn digitizing for now because it's taking too much of my time. I should focus on the just the embroidery side of things for now. Maybe I'll try again the future.

As I said there is no artwork but thanks for the offer Scotty!

I used Designers Gallery Software and they have a portion of it called Letter Works or you can get Letter Works as a Stand Alone Software. Does really beautiful lettering. Even 4 MM.

Pearcarl · October 14th, 2011, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pearcarl

I used Designers Gallery Software and they have a portion of it called Letter Works or you can get Letter Works as a Stand Alone Software. Does really beautiful lettering. Even 4 MM.

That Designers Gallery software is put out by Babylock....