Embroidery file formats might not seem important at first glance—after all, the image might look perfect on your screen. However, when it comes to embroidery, there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes. The file format you choose directly affects how the machine interprets your design. If the format isn’t right, it could lead to stitching issues like misalignment, poor detail, or even a distorted logo.
If you’re unsure about the best file format for embroidery, don’t worry—we’ll cover the best ones in this guide to help you get the perfect result for your embroidered logos.
If you'd rather cut straight to the chase and speak to the experts, CTS offers a free workwear consultation. We customise over 20,000 items per week, so we can ensure your designs are optimised and look their best on your workwear.
Before we get into file formats, let’s understand why choosing the right one is so important.
Embroidery machines work by reading specific file types that are optimised for stitching, focusing on factors like stitch count, thread direction, and colour changes. A high-resolution image isn’t enough; the file needs to be converted into an embroidery-friendly format that tells the machine exactly where and how to sew. That’s why experts emphasise the importance of starting with the correct format—one that preserves your logo’s detail and integrity during the stitching process.
This is where a professional eye comes in. At CTS, we know that converting your file into the correct format can be tricky, especially without technical knowledge. That’s why we offer to handle the conversion process for you, making sure your logo is in the best file format for embroidery. This ensures your design turns out crisp, clean, and exactly how you envisioned it on your custom workwear.
When you search for embroidery file formats, you’ll often find lists with lengthy technical explanations. While that’s great for deeper understanding, we’re keeping it simple. If you're looking to have your logo embroidered on workwear, two formats stand out as the best: EPS or AI. These formats are ideal because they allow for easy scaling without losing any detail, which is crucial when translating a logo into stitches.
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript): This format allows your logo to be easily scaled without losing any detail. It’s widely used in design because it preserves the sharpness and clarity of your logo, ensuring it translates well into stitches.
AI (Adobe Illustrator): Like EPS, AI files retain high quality at any size, making them perfect for detailed embroidery. Because they’re vector files, AI formats offer clean lines and edges, which are critical when your design gets converted into stitches.
Vector formats like EPS and AI contain scalable, editable data that’s especially useful for embroidery. These formats provide instructions for precise stitching, ensuring that logos—whether they’re small or large—come out sharp and accurate. These files also allow for easy modifications, making them flexible for future projects.
Embroidery-specific formats like DST, PES, and EXP are also used by certain embroidery machines. These formats are not design files themselves but machine-readable files that tell the machine exactly how to stitch the design.
While vector formats are the best choice, sometimes logos are provided in JPG, BMP, or TIF formats. These are raster formats, which are made up of pixels and lose quality when resized. They don’t inherently store the stitch information that embroidery machines need, so they require conversion through a process called digitising. Digitising is the process of converting a flat image into a stitch-ready design by mapping out the stitch types, directions, and densities necessary to recreate the logo in thread.
For first-time CTS customers, there’s a one-off £15 fee for converting logos into embroidery file formats. And once your logo is digitised, you’re set for the future—no more worrying about files! Your design will be saved for easy reorders anytime.
While knowing the best embroidery file formats is crucial for a great result, they aren’t the only thing to consider. Logos with too many fine details or small text may lose clarity when stitched. Enlarging small elements, reducing fine details, and focusing on bold, clear shapes will ensure the embroidery is clean and readable.
Colour is another factor. Embroidery machines work with a limited number of thread colours, so simplifying your palette ensures accuracy. Test how your design looks with fewer colours to get a sense of its embroidered appearance.
To ensure scalability, work with vector-based designs like EPS or AI that retain detail at any size. Test how your logo looks when resized, particularly for smaller placements like chest or sleeve areas. Adjusting the logo’s proportions, simplifying elements, and focusing on strong colour contrasts can maintain a crisp, polished look even in smaller spaces.
While the web may present you with countless formats, the simplest and best file formats for embroidery are EPS and AI. These vector formats guarantee sharpness, scalability, and precision during the embroidery process. Beyond formats, optimising your design by simplifying complex details and colours are key for a polished result.
At CTS, we keep the process as simple as possible. We accept all file types, provided they're high quality, and offer a one-time £15 fee for new customers to have their logos digitised. This ensures your design is embroidery-ready for all future orders.
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With over 100 years of industry knowledge, specialising in embroidery, print and direct to film - there’s something for everyone at CTS. And with our free, no obligation workwear consultation, you can cut all the confusion out and speak straight to an expert.
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