digitizing designs

[Redina]

As a newcomer, I send my designs out to be punched. Since the price is based on how many stitches are required, can I reduce the size requested, hence lowering the stitch count, and then have the machine enlarge the design, and the stitch count which it certainly seems capable of doing?

[Dorothy Compton]

Yes and no....a good rule of thumb is 20% up or down without the need to edit. You can do more but the result may need editing. For example if you're enlarging a design a column satin stitch may become so wide that keeping the same satin would result in stitches that are easily caught and then pulled out; you would need to edit the column to be a fill stitch. Also in enlarging what was close enough for a small version of the design won't work for a large version (edges not matching, etc.). The same is true in going smaller....a narrow column could become so small that you would get a lot of thread breaks; you might need to change the column to a running stitch. You can't get as much detail in a small design as in a large one!

That being said, I have successfully enlarged a left chest design by 400% for a jacket back. You just have to know what you're doing.

If you're concerned about the digitizing cost (which you should be passing on to your customer WITH a markup), Art Work Source has published standard pricing for left chest and jacket back sized designs ($30 and $99 respectively). Using them has allowed me to quote a digitizing fee to a customer prior to any work on my part!

By the way, I still don't digitize and I've been at this for more than 5 years....I simply don't have the time.

Lunch break over, back to work! Hope this helps.

Dorothy Compton, Owner
Bee Embroidered
www.BeeEmbroidered.com
(916) 635-7467

[debndukes]

I am addicted to digitizingpro.com. They do a really great job and charge $2.99-$4.99 / 1000 stitches depending on turnaround (24hrs - 5days) . I have had a total of 9 designs digitized to perfection through them in the last month at a total of $263.00. I still charge the client the usual $50-$75 for the design and they cant be happier.