Embroidery quality based on file type?

sbarton03 · January 3rd, 2014, 12:51 AM

Hello, I am new here and was hoping I can get your expert advise or opinions. I'm starting my own company and I'm having my company's logo digitized for embroidery. I am wondering if the file type has anything to do with the quality of the way the embroidery stitch will come out? I am sending my digitized file to a company that will be doing the embroidery work onto my clothing for me but, they asked for my logo in a PDF file and another company is asking me to give it to them in ENB or DSB format. Is this because of the type of embroidery machine they have or does one file format create a better stitch quality then the other? Hope this isn't a bad question and looking forward to any tips.

Best,
Sbarton03

Robert Young · January 3rd, 2014, 08:35 AM

Good morning, it sounds like the company asking for the PDF file is going to digitize the design themselves (make sure you agree to this and their pricing for this service, especially if you already paid someone else to digitize for you!) I say this because PDF is an art file, not an embroidery machine file.

Now the other company is asking for (check your spelling) either an EMB (melco) or a DST (tajima) file... those ARE machine files... so the only way you have those is if you did have someone digitize the file for you already.

Either way make sure you get a copy of the machine file and keep it in your records so when you get repeat orders you will have the ability to use whichever embroidery shop you like. So if you go with the PDF company and allow them to do the digitizing make sure the deal is that you get a copy of the DST as well... otherwise the only way you can ever do another order (without paying a new digitizing fee) would be to use the SAME embroiderer.... if YOU keep the DST files then you can go anywhere.

hope this helps?

SunEmbroidery · January 4th, 2014, 04:38 PM

If you are wondering about whether the quality of the artwork file you send matters then the answer is yes. Usually a high resolution file such as eps, ai, cdr or pdf is best. Your artwork file will be sized correctly and used as a templete for the embroidery set-up. If the resolution is so poor that the details are pixelated than that will negatively impact your embroidery set-up and your digitizing cost may be increased. Sometimes customers send artwork that is too poor a quality to use for an embroidery set-up. In that case the artwork can be vectorized first (converted into line art) before it is digitized but expect to pay for that additional service.