Most delays on a custom patch order have nothing to do with production. They happen before it starts, while artwork goes back and forth because the logo that was sent cannot be made as a patch without changes. A logo designed for a screen or a business card is not automatically ready for thread.
This guide shows how to prepare your logo for custom patches so the proof comes back looking the way you expected, the first time.
Why a logo needs preparing
A screen can show any colour, any gradient and a line one pixel wide. A patch is made from physical thread or moulded material, and both have limits. Thread has a width. A stitch has a minimum length. Colours come from a set range of threads. Anything in your logo that is smaller or finer than the material allows will either be simplified by the digitizer or will come out blurred. Preparing the artwork means making those decisions yourself instead of leaving them to chance.
Start with the right file
Send the best version of the logo you have.
- Vector files are best. AI, EPS, SVG and vector PDF files can be scaled to any size without losing sharpness, and the shapes and colours are cleanly separated.
- High-resolution images work. A large, sharp PNG or JPG is fine. A PNG with a transparent background is better than a JPG on white.
- Avoid screenshots and small web images. A logo copied from a website header or a social media profile is usually too small and too compressed. Edges are fuzzy and colours are unclear.
- A sketch is still a starting point. If you only have a drawing or a photo of an old patch, send it with a description. It will need to be redrawn, but it can be worked from.
If a designer made your logo, ask them for the original vector file. It is the single most useful thing you can send. Our quote form accepts JPG, PNG, PDF, AI and PSD files, so if your vector file is an EPS or SVG, save it as a PDF before uploading.
Simplify the design
This is where most of the improvement comes from. Look at your logo and ask what a person needs to see to recognise it.
- Drop the tagline if it is small. A line of tiny text under the name is the first thing to fail in thread.
- Remove gradients and shadows. Thread is solid colour. Replace a gradient with one flat colour or two clearly separate ones.
- Thicken thin lines. Hairline outlines and fine strokes either disappear or look broken.
- Reduce small detail. Tiny stars, dots, textures and inner outlines merge together at patch size.
- Open up tight spaces. Small gaps between shapes close up when stitched. Give elements room.
Many organisations keep two versions of their logo for this reason: the full version for print and screen, and a simplified version for embroidery and small uses.
Get the text right
Text causes more problems than anything else on a patch.
- Keep embroidered lettering at least about a quarter of an inch high.
- Use bold, simple typefaces. Thin scripts and light serif fonts lose their shape in thread.
- Add a little space between letters so they do not run together.
- Use capitals for short words. They hold up better than lower case at small sizes.
- Cut the word count. A name reads. A name, a slogan, a date and a location compete with each other.
If the text cannot be made bigger and cannot be removed, the patch type is the next thing to change. Woven patches hold much smaller lettering than embroidered ones. Our comparison of embroidered vs woven patches explains the difference.
Sort out your colours
Count the colours in your logo. Close shades that look distinct on screen, such as two similar blues, often look identical in thread and can be merged into one. Fewer colours give a cleaner patch and a lower price, as our guide to custom patch cost factors explains.
Then think about matching. Thread colours are not screen colours. If exact brand colour matters, give a reference such as a Pantone number or a thread number from a brand you know, not just a hex code. Our free tools can help at this stage:
- The logo to thread colors tool helps you identify thread colours from your artwork.
- The thread color converter finds the closest equivalent between thread brands.
- The thread color charts list colours by brand with hex and RGB values.
Screen values are approximations of physical thread, so treat them as a guide and expect small differences in the finished patch.
Decide the size and shape
Size decides how much of your design survives. Print the logo at the size you plan to order and look at it from a few feet away. Whatever you cannot make out on paper will not be clearer in thread. Our custom patch size guide lists the sizes that suit each placement.
For shape you have two routes. A standard shape such as a circle, rectangle, oval or shield gives your logo a background and a traditional border. A custom shape follows the outline of the logo itself. If you choose a custom shape, avoid thin points and narrow sections that stick out, because they are the parts most likely to bend or lift.
Choose a background
On an embroidered patch the background can be stitched or it can be the base fabric showing through. Decide which colour sits behind your logo and make sure there is enough contrast. A dark logo needs a light background and the reverse. If the patch will sit on a garment of a similar colour, add a border in a contrasting colour so it does not disappear.
Common artwork problems
| Problem | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny text | Letters fill in and become unreadable | Enlarge it, remove it or choose woven |
| Gradients | Cannot be reproduced in thread | Use flat colours, or choose a sublimated patch |
| Thin outlines | Lines break up or vanish | Thicken them |
| Too many colours | Higher cost, muddy result | Merge similar shades |
| Low-resolution file | Edges and colours are unclear | Send a vector or larger image |
| Photographic detail | Cannot be stitched | Simplify, or choose a sublimated patch |
If your design depends on gradients or photographic detail and cannot be simplified, a sublimated patch prints the artwork into the fabric and has none of these limits.
A checklist before you send
- Best available file, vector if possible.
- Simplified version of the logo if the original is detailed.
- Smallest text checked at actual size.
- Colours counted and reduced where possible.
- Colour references included if matching matters.
- Width and height decided.
- Shape decided: standard or custom.
- Background and border colours chosen.
- A note on what the patch is going on.
Check the proof properly
Before production you should see a digital proof. Treat it as the last chance to change anything. Check the spelling letter by letter, check the dimensions shown, compare each colour with your reference and look at the smallest elements. If something looks cramped on the proof, it will look cramped on the patch.
You do not have to get all of this perfect yourself. We offer design assistance, so if you are unsure, send what you have and tell us where the patch will be used. Start with a quote request, or see the patch types on our custom embroidered patches page.
Frequently asked questions
What file format is best for a custom patch?
A vector file such as AI, EPS, SVG or vector PDF. A large, sharp PNG is the next best option.
Can you make a patch from a photo of my logo?
Yes, but it will need to be redrawn first, so the cleaner the source the better the result.
How small can text be on an embroidered patch?
About a quarter of an inch high is a sensible minimum. Smaller text is better suited to a woven patch.
Will the thread match my brand colours exactly?
It will be close. Thread comes in a set range of colours, so supply a Pantone or thread reference and expect slight variation.
