Logo Digitising for Embroidery
We turn your existing artwork into a clean, production-ready stitch file — the step that decides whether your logo looks crisp on a polo shirt or like a mess of crossed threads.
From a graphic file to a stitch path
Embroidery machines don't read logos the way printers do. They read stitch files — a sequence of needle moves that tells the machine exactly where to put each stitch, in what direction, and with what density. Converting your logo into that file is called digitising, and it's the single biggest factor in how a finished embroidered logo looks.
Bad digitising is why some embroidered logos look chunky, pulled, or fuzzy at the edges. Good digitising — the kind that respects the fabric, the size, and the shape of the design — is what makes the difference between "homemade" and "premium".
File formats we accept
- Vector (best): AI, PDF
- Raster (workable): high-resolution PNG, JPG, GIF
- Existing stitch files: DST, EMB (we'll review them and clean up if needed)
If all you have is a small logo lifted from a website, send it through anyway — we'll tell you honestly whether it'll digitise well or whether it needs to be redrawn first.
What we do during digitising
- Trace the artwork by hand into stitch paths — we don't rely on auto-converters that produce messy output.
- Choose stitch types (satin, fill, run) based on the shape and size of each element.
- Set densities and underlays to suit the fabric you're embroidering on (a beanie behaves very differently to a polo).
- Map thread colours to actual Marathon stocks so the colours we run match what we promised.
- Tune for size. A logo at 7 cm wide on a cap front is a different file to the same logo at 25 cm on a jacket back.
Digitising is a once-off
You only digitise a logo once. Once we have a clean stitch file for your brand, every future order — caps, polos, jackets, anything — runs from the same file. That's why repeat customers see their reorders come out identical, year after year.
How to brief us
- Send the highest-quality file you have. Vector beats raster, every time.
- Tell us the largest size you'll use it at. Cap, chest, sleeve or back?
- Tell us the fabric. Polo cotton, fleece, technical mesh and beanie knit each need different stitch settings.
- Approval. For new logos, we will send you artwork for approval before we go ahead with your embroidery order.
Logo digitising FAQs
What file formats can I send for digitising?
Vector (best): AI, PDF.
Raster (workable): high-resolution PNG, JPG, GIF.
Existing stitch files: DST, EMB — bring these over from another supplier and we'll review them.
If all you have is a low-resolution image, send it through anyway — we'll tell you honestly whether it'll digitise cleanly or needs redrawing first.
How much does logo digitising cost?
Digitising is a once-off cost per design, quoted up front based on the size and complexity of the logo. Once it's done, every future order runs from the same stitch file at no further digitising charge — even years later. Send us your logo and the largest size you'll embroider it at, and we'll come back with a quote.
How long does digitising take?
Most logos are digitised within 3–5 business days from the day you approve the quote.
Can I see a sample before you embroider my whole order?
Yes, on request. We can run a sample on a fabric swatch so you can sign it off before we go ahead with your embroidery.
Do I own the digitised stitch file?
We keep your stitch file on record so future reorders run identically.
Can you fix a bad digitising job from another shop?
Often yes. Send us the existing stitch file and the original logo and we'll review it. Sometimes we can clean up the existing file; other times it's faster and cleaner to redigitise from scratch — we'll tell you which approach makes sense.
Got a logo that needs digitising?
Send it through on WhatsApp and we'll let you know what we can do with it.
WhatsApp Louise about digitising Contact us