What file should you send?
The best file is a vector, because it is made of shapes rather than pixels and scales to any size without blurring.
| File type | Good for embroidery? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AI, EPS, SVG | Excellent | Original design files; ask your designer for these |
| PDF (vector) | Excellent | Export from design software, not a scan |
| PNG (300 DPI at final size) | Good | Transparent background helps |
| JPG (high resolution) | Acceptable | Avoid heavily compressed images |
| Screenshot or social media image | Usable for quoting | Low resolution; may need redrawing |
| Photo of a sketch | Usable | We can redraw it into a clean design |
If you only have a low-resolution logo or a sketch, send it anyway. It is enough for a quote, and the design can be cleaned up as part of the mockup.
How small can text and lines be?
Thread has a physical thickness, so very small details close up. These are the practical minimums:
- Embroidered text: about 6 mm tall for capitals, more for script or thin fonts
- Woven text: about 3 mm tall, because woven thread is much finer
- Lines: about 1 mm thick for embroidery; thinner lines may disappear or be thickened
- Gaps between shapes: about 1 mm, or they fill in
If your logo has a small tagline, a web address or fine detail, consider woven patches instead of embroidered. Our comparison of embroidered vs woven patches explains why.
How many colours can a patch have?
Embroidered and woven patches use solid thread colours. Most designs use 8 to 12 colours at most; beyond that, small areas become hard to distinguish. Fewer colours with strong contrast usually look sharper.
Embroidery and weaving cannot reproduce smooth gradients, shadows or photographs. If your design relies on them, choose printed patches, which use dye sublimation to reproduce full colour.
See your artwork as a custom Ireland patch before you buy. Free digital mockup in 12 hours — 5-piece minimum per design. We do not produce until you approve.
GET A FREE MOCKUPHow do you specify exact colours?
The most reliable way is a Pantone (PMS) number for each colour, usually found in brand guidelines. If you do not have them:
- Send a photo of a physical item in your colours, taken in daylight
- Describe the colours ("club maroon, not wine red")
- Check the mockup on more than one screen
Thread colours are matched as closely as the material allows.
What is digitising?
Digitising is the process of turning your artwork into a stitch file, the instructions an embroidery machine follows. A digitiser decides:
- Which stitch type to use for each area: fill stitches for large areas, satin stitches for text and outlines
- The direction of stitches, which affects how light catches the thread
- The order of colours and layers
- Where fine details need thickening so they stitch cleanly
Good digitising is why one embroidered logo looks crisp and another looks messy, even on the same machine. It is included in your quote.
What changes when a logo is turned into a patch?
Expect small adjustments, which are shown on the mockup:
- Very thin lines thickened slightly
- Tiny text enlarged or simplified
- Small gaps between shapes closed or opened
- Gradients replaced with solid colour bands (unless printed)
- Similar colours merged
Ready to spec type, size, backing, and quantity? Open the quote form for a free 12-hour mockup and Ireland-wide shipping after approval.
GET A FREE MOCKUPWe flag any change on the free mockup so you can approve or adjust it.
Preparing artwork checklist
1. Find the original logo file, ideally a vector. 2. Decide the patch size in centimetres; see the patch size guide. 3. Check the smallest text against the minimums above. 4. Note Pantone numbers or send a colour reference. 5. Remove details that will not read at patch size, such as taglines and fine print. 6. Send it with the quantity and backing through our quote form.
Common artwork problems and how they are fixed
- Low-resolution logo from a website: we redraw it as a clean vector for the mockup. - White text on a transparent background: tell us the intended background colour so the contrast is right. - Logo with a drop shadow or glow: these are removed or replaced with a solid outline in embroidery. - Very thin script font: the font is thickened slightly or swapped for a heavier weight, shown on the mockup.
Who owns the artwork?
You confirm you have the rights to use any artwork you send. We use it only to quote and produce your patches. Club crests, brand logos and other people's designs need permission from their owner.
What this guide is based on
These are the artwork guidelines Irish Customized Patches uses when digitising logos for embroidered and woven patches. Exact minimums depend on the font and design, and we confirm them on your mockup. The full ordering process is in how to order custom patches.