If you're having a company logo, club crest or other design embroidered onto clothing, you may have been asked to supply an embroidery file.
That can quickly lead to questions about file formats such as DST, PES, EMB, JPG, PNG, PDF, EPS and AI.
The good news is: you don't need to understand embroidery file formats to order custom embroidery from Varsity 1827.
Send us the best-quality version of your artwork that you have available and we'll take it from there.
Here's what you need to know.
What is the best file format to send for embroidery?
If you already have your logo or artwork, we'd generally recommend sending us the highest-quality original version available.
Good formats to send us include:
- AI — Adobe Illustrator artwork
- EPS — vector artwork
- PDF — ideally containing vector artwork
- SVG — scalable vector artwork
- PNG — preferably large and high resolution with a transparent background
- JPG/JPEG — preferably the highest-resolution original available
Vector artwork such as AI, EPS or SVG is particularly useful because it can be scaled without losing quality.
However, don't worry if all you have is a PNG or JPEG.
Send it to us and we'll assess whether the artwork is suitable.
Do I need a DST file?
No.
A DST file is a common machine embroidery file format containing stitch information that an embroidery machine can interpret.
If you already have a professionally prepared DST file for your logo, you're welcome to send it to us.
But we don't expect customers to provide one.
If you have a normal logo file rather than an embroidery file, we can arrange for the artwork to be prepared correctly for embroidery.
Can I send a JPEG or PNG for embroidery?
Yes.
A good-quality JPEG or PNG can often provide us with enough information to prepare a design for embroidery.
The important factor is the quality of the original image.
A large, sharp PNG of a simple company logo is considerably more useful than a tiny JPEG that's been copied from a website, enlarged and compressed several times.
As a general rule:
Send us the original file wherever possible rather than a screenshot of it.
If the artwork isn't good enough to work from, we'll let you know.
What is vector artwork?
Vector artwork is created using mathematical shapes and paths rather than a fixed grid of pixels.
The practical advantage is that it can be made larger or smaller without becoming blurry or pixelated.
Common vector file formats include:
AI, EPS and SVG.
PDF files can also contain vector artwork, although a PDF isn't automatically a vector file — it depends on how it was originally created.
For logos, wordmarks and club crests, having the original vector artwork is extremely useful.
But it's important to understand that a vector logo still isn't an embroidery file.
It gives us excellent source artwork from which to create one.
Why can't an embroidery machine just use my logo file?
Embroidery doesn't work like conventional printing.
A printer can reproduce an image by placing ink or toner onto a surface.
An embroidery machine has to construct the design using individual stitches of thread.
It needs to know things such as:
- Where each stitch should go
- Which direction the stitches should run
- Which stitch types should be used
- How densely areas should be stitched
- In what order different parts of the design should be embroidered
- When thread colours should change
A JPEG, PNG or even a vector AI file doesn't contain this information.
That's why your artwork first needs to be converted into an embroidery-specific file.
What is embroidery digitisation?
The process of converting artwork into instructions for an embroidery machine is known as embroidery digitisation.
Despite the name, it isn't simply an automated file conversion.
A properly digitised design determines how the logo will actually be constructed in thread.
Decisions need to be made about stitch types, stitch direction, density, underlay, sequence and other technical elements.
This can have a significant impact on the finished result.
Poor digitisation can turn perfectly good artwork into poor embroidery.
Good digitisation takes into account both the design and the garment onto which it will be embroidered.
What embroidery file formats are there?
There are numerous specialist embroidery file formats because different machines and embroidery software can use different systems.
You may encounter formats such as:
DST — one of the most widely used commercial embroidery machine formats.
PES — commonly associated with Brother embroidery machines.
EXP — used by various commercial embroidery systems.
JEF — associated with Janome machines.
VP3 — used by some Husqvarna Viking and Pfaff systems.
EMB — an editable embroidery design format associated with professional digitising software.
For most customers, however, none of this is something you need to worry about.
We're interested in getting the best possible source artwork from you. We'll deal with the embroidery-specific requirements.
Can I just rename my PNG as a DST file?
No.
Changing the filename extension doesn't convert ordinary artwork into an embroidery design.
Likewise, simply running artwork through an automatic online file converter doesn't necessarily produce a properly digitised embroidery file.
An embroidery file needs information about how the design should physically be stitched.
That's why digitisation is a production process rather than simply a file conversion.
Does my artwork need to be 300 DPI?
Not necessarily.
DPI is relevant to raster images such as JPEGs and PNGs, but it isn't the only measure of whether artwork is suitable.
A vector logo doesn't have the same resolution limitations because it can be scaled without losing quality.
For raster artwork, however, higher-quality source files are always preferable.
Rather than worrying about whether your artwork meets a particular technical specification, our advice is simple:
Send us the best original version you have.
We'll tell you if we need anything else.
What if my logo is very detailed?
This is where preparing artwork for embroidery becomes particularly important.
Something that looks perfect on a computer screen doesn't necessarily translate perfectly into thread.
Very small lettering, extremely fine lines, gradients and tiny details can be difficult to reproduce at typical embroidery sizes.
For example, a highly detailed club crest might look fantastic printed at 8cm wide but lose some of its finer detail when embroidered at the same size.
That doesn't necessarily mean the logo can't be embroidered.
We may recommend:
- Making the embroidery slightly larger
- Increasing the size of very small lettering
- Simplifying an extremely fine detail
- Adjusting the spacing between elements
- Using a different decoration method
We'll always aim to preserve the character of your artwork while making sure it works properly as embroidery.
Do the colours in my artwork need to be exact?
Send us your logo in its correct colours wherever possible.
Embroidery uses physical thread, so colours are selected from available thread shades rather than reproduced using exactly the same process as a digital screen or printed image.
If your organisation has specific brand colours — such as Pantone references — include those when you send us the artwork.
We can then select thread colours that provide an appropriate match.
What if I only have a screenshot of my logo?
Send it to us.
A screenshot wouldn't be our first choice, but it's still worth letting us see what you have.
We may be able to work from it, or we may ask whether you can obtain the original artwork from whoever created your logo.
If you're part of a business, club, school, university or other organisation, there may already be higher-quality artwork available in your brand files.
Don't enlarge or edit a small image before sending it to us. Sending us the original version is usually more useful.
What if I already have an embroidery file?
Send that too.
If your logo has previously been professionally digitised, you may already have a DST or another embroidery-specific file.
Where possible, we'd recommend sending us:
The embroidery file + the original visual artwork.
The visual artwork allows us to check what the finished design is intended to look like, while the embroidery file gives us the existing stitch information.
We'll assess the files before production rather than assuming that an embroidery file created elsewhere is automatically suitable for every garment, size or application.
Can the same embroidery file be used again?
Usually, yes.
Once we've prepared your logo for embroidery, the file can be retained for future orders.
That means if you order five embroidered polos today and return later for another polo, jacket or quarter-zip, we already have your design on file.
Depending on the garment, embroidery size or positioning, some adjustment may occasionally be necessary.
But having the original embroidery artwork makes repeat orders considerably more straightforward.
What should I send Varsity 1827?
If you're ready to have something embroidered, don't worry about trying to create an embroidery file yourself.
Simply send us:
- Your best available logo or artwork file
- Any specific brand or Pantone colours
- What you'd like embroidered
- Where you'd like the embroidery positioned
- Approximately how many garments you need
If you have vector artwork, fantastic.
If you already have an embroidery file, send that too.
If all you have is a PNG or JPEG, send us that and we'll take a look.
Ready to Have Your Logo Embroidered?
You don't need a DST file, specialist embroidery software or any technical knowledge to get started.
Send Varsity 1827 the best artwork you have and tell us what you'd like to create.
We'll assess your design, advise on its suitability for embroidery and take care of the technical preparation required to turn your artwork into thread.
And with no minimum order, that can be for one garment or hundreds.
From one garment to a complete collection.
