But what does a digitizer actually do?

So you have a design you need for a customers job, and you email it over to the digitizer. A few days later, the stitch file shows up in your inbox. Like magic, right? But what really happens on the digitizers desk to make that happen?

If the design isn't already in digital form, it is scanned in to bring it up in the embroidery software. From this point, companies that use an auto-digitizing software open the file and run it through, giving it some basic parameters and let the software do it's thing.... problem is, this only does a decent job on very elementary designs and there's still a need to edit and work over the resulting design as this type of software feature is not all it's touted to be and if you don't understand the process and it's limitations, you turn out junk.

What I really wanted to tell you is how digitizing is done the right way. Once the logo is in the embroidery softwear, a plan is formulated to digitize the design using a path that includes the least number of trims and color breaks so that it sews efficiently and as quickly as possible. This is called pathing.

The design is then digitized (point by point) by hand, using this path and programming codes are added telling the embroidery machine when to trim, change colors and how much density to use. A number of other commands that relate to fabric and stitching quality, are also added to basically tell the machine what to do, where and when to drop the needle, and move the needle on a mathematical grid of stitching. (There's much, MUCH more, but this is the basic the gist of it)

All these things are the reason why it's important to tell the digitizer what type of fabric the design is intended for, what colors will be used and where and the type of garment(s) it will be applied to.

Once the design is complete, a good digitizer will sew the design out to insure it sews well and registers everywhere...meaning everything lines up correctly. Designs may need to be sewn out several times to insure they sew properly.

Most companies will send you a scan or digital of the design with the stitch file so you can see the logo right away. So into your inbox comes a picture of the completed design to look at and a file in a stitching format that you won't be able to open unless you have embroidery software. This goes to the machine to produce your garments.

With a clearer idea of what you're actually paying the digitizer to do, you can have a better understanding of what it takes to create professional embroidery designs and be able to ask intelligent questions when searching for the right digitizer for you.

When you're searching for professional digitizing, NeedleUp Digitizing would love to help you be successful! Visit our website: http://www.needleup.com for more information on our services and to contact us directly.