# Embroidery

## Embroidery Parameters & Restrictions

At The Print Room, we take pride in delivering high-quality embroidery while working within the technical constraints of our equipment and processes. This page outlines the key parameters, limitations, and best practices to help you prepare artwork for embroidery and plan your designs effectively.

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### Maximum Embroidery Area

* **Largest hoop size in-house:**\
  **250mm x 440mm (25cm x 44cm)**\
  This is the maximum physical area we can embroider on a garment in a single run.

  > Designs larger than this cannot be stitched in one piece and may need to be adjusted or split.
* **Recommended maximums for common areas:**

| Garment Area         | Max Size      |
| -------------------- | ------------- |
| Left Chest           | 100mm x 100mm |
| Right Chest          | 100mm x 100mm |
| Cap Front Panel      | 55mm x 110mm  |
| Sleeve               | 90mm x 90mm   |
| Back (shoulder area) | 250mm x 440mm |

### Embroidery File Requirements

* **File types accepted:**\
  DST, EMB, PES, or high-quality vector formats (AI, EPS, PDF) for digitizing.
* **Digitizing required:**\
  Every embroidery job requires a digitized file (a stitch-ready file). If you don’t have one, our team can convert your design for a fee.
* **Maximum file size:**\
  Designs must be under **2 MB** for machine compatibility.
* **Color limits:**\
  Up to **12 thread colors** per design.

### Redigitizing Policy

If an existing embroidery file cannot be used as-is — for example, if the design needs to be significantly resized, modified to meet technical limitations, or corrected for quality issues — it must be redigitized.

* Our team will review your file and advise if redigitizing is required.
* A **redigitizing fee** will apply in these cases, which we will quote before proceeding.
* Redigitizing ensures the best quality and prevents production errors.

Please contact us if you’d like guidance on whether your file is suitable.

### Scaling & Detail

Embroidery has physical thread limits — not every design can be reduced or enlarged without loss of quality.

* **Minimum text height:** \~5mm (smaller text risks becoming illegible).
* **Minimum line thickness:** \~1mm (thinner lines may not stitch properly).
* Designs can generally be scaled up/down by **10–15%** from the original digitized size without redigitizing. Beyond that, we recommend redigitizing for best results.

### Design Placement Guidelines

Different garments and areas have their own constraints. Below are common placement zones and notes:

| Placement Area       | Notes                                                                |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Left/Right Chest** | Standard position for logos and names. Keep within 100mm x 100mm.    |
| **Sleeve**           | Suitable for small logos or text. Maximum 90mm x 90mm.               |
| **Back – Shoulder**  | Large branding or team names fit here. Up to 250mm x 440mm.          |
| **Cap Front**        | Curved surface — max height \~55mm, width \~110mm.                   |
| **Other**            | Contact us to discuss unusual placements — we’ll assess feasibility. |

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### Best Practices

* Keep designs bold, with clear lines and shapes.
* Avoid tiny details, gradients, or very fine text.
* Submit vector artwork where possible to speed up digitizing.
* Plan ahead: complex jobs may take additional time.

If you’re unsure whether your design will work, send it to our team — we’re happy to advise.