As technology continues to evolve, digital tools are used in increasing applications. For instance, digitizing is a relatively new concept. Now, technology allows us to create artwork in a digital format which is used with industrial embroidery machines to form the needle’s path and make the design a reality. However, most digital embroidery machines offer apps and software that allow you to select and preview your design. Using this embroidery technique also ensures your stitch is high-quality and leaves you with a precise and professional finish.
The Dos And Don’ts Of Digitizing In Embroidery
If you follow our dos and don’ts of Digitizing in Embroidery, you can be sure to love your final product.
- DO Consider The Garment You Are Designing
Before you begin the designing and digitizing process, it is important to consider the garment you are working with. For instance, the technique used to digitize a T-shirt will differ from that used to digitize a hat pattern. Flat garments such as shirts have smooth surfaces. So the digitizing process should consider this. With a cap, the curved surface means that you need a different design to digitize.
The type of fabric is also a factor to consider when Digitizing Embroidery, as different techniques are suitable for different materials. For instance, stretchy fabrics such as knitwear require a low-density design to minimize the risk of puckering. Also, different fabrics require other digitizing considerations, like what looks good on one fabric may not look good on another.
- DO Work Out A Suitable Sequencing Pattern When Digitizing
It is essential to consider the sequence of digital embroidery machines when replicating the design. The standard sequence followed by most designs is starting with a placement stitch to identify where the stitching can begin. This is followed by underlay stitching which is necessary to secure a fabric design from pulling and puckering. The last step in the sequence is topstitching which finishes the overall look.
When digitizing embroidery, you should include each of these steps in the design process to ensure that the stitch is of high quality. It is also crucial to consider particular details within your design as smaller details should be sequenced to stitch last for the finished look.
- DO Consider The Stitching Angle
The stitching angle in embroidery is usually varied, with the most successful strategies using various stitch angles throughout the design. To create an aesthetically pleasing textural piece, it is important to consider the stitching angles in the digitizing process, making sure you use multiple angles.
As a default, digitizing programs use a 45-degree angle for stitches. Using this basic angle can create a design that looks one-dimensional. For this reason, it is favorable to play around with stitch angles when Digitizing Embroidery Patches. Thread direction also plays a part in this, as changing it multiple times helps to minimize pulling issues.
- Don’t Rush Into Digitizing
Before beginning any digital embroidery project, conducting research and making an initial plan is essential. The foundations of your plan should consider the type of fabric, the colors you are using, and what you want your design to look like visually. A simple plan can be developed with steps detailing your entire design and the types of stitching sequences required with these factors.
Having a set plan minimizes the risk of mistakes, as through research, you can identify and avoid potential problems. Moreover, if any errors arise through the digitizing process, having a preempted plan with set stages also makes it easy to find the root of the problem and recover quickly.
- Don’t Add Too Many Jump Stitches
A jump stitch is not a part of the overall design. It is the stitch digital embroidery machines make when it finishes stitching one thing out and need to move over another thing. The thread is pulled along when the needle moves, which can cause the design to look messy. Therefore, it is crucial to consider stitching sequences when digitizing embroidery in order to minimize the number of jump stitches.
The Chain Stitched Digitizing sequence should not incorporate steps in which one part of the design is stitched, and the next stitch is on the opposite side of the design because this will cause large jump stitches. When digitizing embroidery, your sequence should work logically and from one side to the other overall to avoid too many jump stitches.
- Don’t Rely On Auto Digitizing
As a beginner at digitizing embroidery, it can be easy to rely on auto-digitizing. It is perfect for simple designs, and so for starting, this is a great method to use. However, auto-digitizing is not the best procedure for more complex designs of Embroidery Patches or an overall high-quality finish. It is much easier to make mistakes when relying on an auto-digitizing program. And in most cases, these mistakes are not obvious until you finish the piece.
It is best to learn digitizing methods rather than relying on auto digitizing to prevent mistakes and save resources. In the long run, having more in-depth expertise and skill in digitizing embroidery will help you achieve quality and complex design.
