A couple blogs ago we talked about updating your logo. Now that your logo is dialed in, it’s time to show it off! Embroidering branded apparel is a great way to get your company’s name out to the masses. You and anybody wearing your embroidered apparel are essentially walking billboards—and you didn’t even have to pay a rental fee. Nice!

So now it’s just a matter of sending a file of your logo to the embroidery vendor where they will work their magic, right? Wrong. There are actually a few things you and your trusty Seedhouse Creative team can do to ensure your logo pops and that your employees are clamoring for what is sure to be the hottest in office fashion trends. Here are five design tips for converting a business logo into embroidery:

1. Review your logo and make alterations specifically for embroidery use.

Consider the size your logo will appear on the garment and the limitations of thread. Fine lines and fine details will be lost the smaller your logo is, and gradients are difficult to replicate with thread. Your logo can easily become unrecognizable and unreadable if you don’t address these issues. You’ll also want to think about the location and physical space the logo will be sewn. It might sew out better in a different orientation, like in a stacked version. Your logo will need to be simplified with these things in mind so it’s easy to embroider, and it has a finished look with nice, tight lines.

2. Pay attention to resolution.

You’ve seen those images online that are fuzzy and make you squint your eyes as if you can put them back in focus, right? Now imagine trying to use that image to create embroidery. You’re probably going to end up with something that is drastically different than your originally created logo. Resolution matters. Starting with the highest resolution graphic can make a big difference in the quality and readability of the finished product.

3. Ensure your colors are compatible.

Thread colors are not always a perfect PMS match so even if you send the PMS colors to the embroidery vendor you may not get an exact match. Review the recommended thread colors to ensure they are a good fit for your brand’s graphic standards. Also, consider the color of the garment to make sure the embroidery thread colors are compatible. If you have bright colors in your logo it will probably look better on dark colored fabric and vice versa.

4. Find the right embroidery company.

You’ll want to make sure you enlist the services of a good embroidery company. Years of experience, reputation, and customer feedback should all be looked into. Cost should also be taken into consideration, but be careful—just because one company charges less than another doesn’t mean it’s right for the job. You don’t want to sacrifice quality on something as important as your company’s identity.

5. Request sewout for approval.

Just like you wouldn’t send an important print job to the printer without doing a press check, you shouldn’t get something embroidered without seeing and approving a sewout. The sewout is your chance to make sure everything is crisp and exactly the way it’s intended. Be sure to review the sewout at the actual size it will be sewn to make sure the logo is readable and recognizable.

We frequently work with clients to prepare a digital file of their logo specifically for embroidery and it’s a really important step that makes a big difference in how the embroidery turns out. If you are considering branded apparel, let us help you make sure your logo is set up properly for the best embroidery quality.