How Fabric Color Impacts Contract Digitizing

September 14, 2009

A common frustration for contract digitizers is when the sew-out of their file tests perfectly but turns out horrible on the customer's machine. The file is sent back and the digitizers are then trying to fix an already perfectly digitized file and can only guess where the problem may lie.

When contract digitizers take an order they routinely ask about fabric type and logo placement, then digitize accordingly. What they miss out on is the fabric color.

Why is it important? The pictures below will self explain.

Both sew-outs were done using the same digitized file on the same machine head. Notice how thin and scanty the white letters look on the black fabric yet how bold and crisp the same letters look in blue thread on white fabric.

Once a contract digitizer knows the customer’s fabric color, they can then digitize the files accordingly — adding more density and pull compensation for the darker fabrics. Lighter color fabrics don’t require that much density and adding too much pull compensation will cause objects — especially small letters — to become closed.

If the embroider will use a logo on various fabric colors, the digitizer should send back two files — one for dark and one for light fabrics. Medium color fabrics don’t need any special adjustment and in most cases — either digitized file (dark or light) works well.

Source: Michael Allsup, Digitizing Manager, Quality Punch, Long Beach, Calif. For more information, visit qualitypunch.com.

Intangibles of Choosing a Singlehead Embroidery Machine: Part 2
When selecting a commercial singlehead embroidery machine, it helps to know which options are important and what affects its price the most.
July 19, 2010

Intangibles of Choosing a Singlehead Embroidery Machine
The emphasis from multihead machines to singleheads happened years ago. The trend for smaller, more user friendly machines continues as manufacturers narrow the gap between commercial machines and those intended for home use.
July 06, 2010

Adding Digital Printing to Your Embroidery Shop
If you’re an embroiderer, adding direct-to-garment decorating technology to your shop is probably one of the simplest things you can do from an operational standpoint. In fact, it’s akin to adding a singlehead embroidery machine — to put it rather simply, you’re just adding another machine that hooks up to a computer and produces fantastic-looking decorations.
June 18, 2010

5 Things All Embroidery Shops Should Have
Most embroidery supply houses offer some sort of starter kit, a collection of supplies that supposedly includes everything you need to get started in embroidery. Most of these kits come with a variety of common colors of thread, bobbins, several varieties of backing, snips and more.
June 07, 2010

Tips for Easier Multi-Placement Embroidery
It doesn’t happen often, but you may occasionally get a request to embroider a design that is larger than your largest hoop. Many people simply turn down these types of requests, but learning how to deal with designs that require multiple hoopings can open doors to various types of other jobs.
May 21, 2010