Computers are everywhere lately.  They can be used for almost anything.  And now, with digitizing, you can use an automated embroidery machine to create your finished product.  This will create a product in less time with a more finished appearance – and less work on your part when it comes to the actual stitching.

To do embroidery digitizing, there is some skill involved. First, you have to thoroughly understand how computerized embroidery machines work.  You also have to understand all of the different characteristics in embroidery – from basic stitch types and lengths to which direction stitches should take.  You will also need to know what code will do what in order to get the best looking results.  As well as stitches, the digitizer also needs to understand how different fabrics and threads will affect the final product.  The higher the skill of the digitizer means the better the product, so figure in lots of practice time until you learn the ropes.  There are companies that can do this for you, however, it can get quite costly to do multiple projects.

Next, you will need to get all of your equipment.  In this case, quality does matter!  You will want the latest and best embroider digitizing software that you can afford to buy.  Since technology is moving forward all the time the older software options are quickly outdated.  The higher quality the machine that you use can make a huge difference as well.  If you are new to digitizing and are not sure if it is for you, consider getting a refurbished machine to help cut your costs.  Once you have gotten the hang of it and have decided that you want to continue on, then you can upgrade to a better machine to use for work.

You are probably wondering how all of this can affect your embroidery business.  Look at it this way – digitizing creates a better-finished product.  That means you can do more complicated and impressive designs, and get more money from your finished projects.  Digitizing can also allow you to turn logos or personalized designs into patterns.  This will allow your products to have a more personalized and customized look.

Digitizing is not without its problems, though.  Especially if you are new to the art, it can cause a lot of headaches while you try to get the hang of it.  Most digitizing problems can be broken down into three categories:  using the wrong fabric, using the wrong design parameters, or using the wrong setup.

Unfortunately, not every design will work on every fabric.  As you might imagine, embroidering on satin is quite different than embroidering on felt which is different than embroidering on linen.  If you plan on using the same design on multiple fabrics, you may have to digitize each fabric separately.  This can be quite costly if you are having someone do the digitizing for you, or quite time consuming if you are doing it yourself.  Another option is to limit your work to only certain types of fabrics that can be switched without problems.

If you are using a pre-digitized design, it is crucial to stick with the original parameters, as these have been specifically configured for your project.  Trying to change or resize parameters to suit your needs alters the very thing that is designed to make your project look its best.  Changing anything may cause a change for the worse in your finished project.

Probably the most common error is in incorrect setup – either from lack of experience or just not paying attention to the details.  You should be comfortable with push-pull, which is the small amount of shifting due to the force used while sewing.  Thicker fabrics without much give will have less, while thinner fabrics with more give will have more.  Other things that can affect it are the size of the stitch and the stitched area, density of the stitches, and the tension on your thread.  You may constantly need to make adjustments while sewing to prevent distortion of your final image.

Still, even with potential problems, digitizing can give you a cleaner, more professional image.  You may find it to be the boost that your embroidery business needs to take it to the next level.

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