Helping your customer get the best results for their custom design or logo when they request it for embroidery can sometimes be a challenge with the artwork that is being created today by graphics designers. In today’s world of computers and complex artwork programs many customers will have artwork that was created for them that looks great on paper but does not translate into embroidery very well. When you first look at a design, you need to look at it in terms of how is this going to work with thread rather than ink. Many designs need to be simplified in order to work well for embroidery but that same design may work great for screen printing or sublimation instead of embroidery.I want to show you two designs that were sent in to me for digitizing and both of these designs would look great in ink but not in embroidery.
If he wants embroidery, he will have to compromise and have his design recreated in such a way that he will be happy with it and it will look great in embroidery. This design would not work well for 2 reasons. It was created to look like it was on a round surface and that does not always work out great in embroidery on a flat surface. The second reason is all of the dots inside of each letter. If this could be digitized for embroidery, it would be a production nightmare and he would not be happy with the cost of the digitizing or the end result! This design could work out as a color blend, but not with all of those dots. The customer does not always know this and you have to educate them to make them understand. Show them samples of a color blend and let him digest that possibility.
This second design has too many colors blends in the same area. This design has color blends going in different directions in the same letter. The inside of the letter is one type of color blend and then the border of each letter is another color blend. This would not work in embroidery. 
Also the small black lettering has a white border. The small black lettering needs to be enlarged a small amount and the white border will need to be eliminated.
The customer was also expecting that the white stripes and stars in the flag would just be showing through on his white shirts. This would be impossible. This can work for screen printing but not for embroidery. The white stripes would need to be embroidered in order for the red stripes to look clean and the white stars would need to be placed on top of the navy field.
There is certain information that you need to have from your customer upfront when you are working with them to find out exactly what they want and how they are going to be using their design. Their logo or design is very important to them and you need to know what their final expectations are from you.
Here are some basic questions that you need to ask your customers at the beginning of the process.
What type of garments or articles will be embroidered using his design?
It is very important to know this upfront so that the artwork can be created at that time for the different types of articles. This is very important for you and the digitizer to know. The design is created differently for caps than it is for a left chest shirt design, jacket back or even bags.
Do You Anticipate That This Same Design Be Used For Another Type Of Garment?
It is best to know this up front. The digitizer can create the original design in such a manner that it can be used for more than one type of garment when they first create it.
What type and quality of fabric in the garment will your customer be purchasing?
A design that is created for a woven shirt may not run well on a pique shirt. The designs will require different settings for the different types and quality of the fabric. If you have a design created for a t-shirt it may not run well on a pique shirt because of the rough texture of the pique. There are also different weights of fabrics, so all of these factors need to be taken into consideration when the design is being digitized. The moisture-wicking fabrics need special settings so the digitizer will need to know this at the onset.
How many sizes of this design will be needed?
If your customer has a thought that he may want this design in a larger size for future use, you need to let the digitizer know this. He may be able to create the artwork at that time for both and will save a little on the cost in the future.
Is the artwork camera ready?
An idea of a design on a napkin is not camera ready artwork. If the artwork has not been created in a format that the digitizer can load into his or her computer and start creating the design immediately, then new artwork must be created and there should be an extra charge for this. The best form is a vector file such as a .cdr or a .ai file but this is not always possible for the customer to produce.
A .jpg or a .pdf will also work for digitizing their design. It is very important to get the design in camera-ready artwork from the customer in order to deliver exactly what the customer is expecting. If you do not have camera ready artwork, have the artwork created and then approved by the customer before proceeding with his digitizing order.
How many colors and what exact colors will the design have?
Try to get this established up front, not only how many colors, but where each color will be in the design. This will save you time later on when you are working with the design to create your sew out.
How many different colors of garments will the customer be ordering?
The colors in the original design may need to be adjusted for the different colors of garments. It is best to get this established in the beginning if at all possible. The customer will not even think about this but it is important for you to look at the design in such a manner that you can suggest adjustments to the design so that it will work with all color combinations. He may not order many color combinations the first time, but maybe back for a reorder that will require these adjustments. It is best to anticipate this at the beginning.
Helping your customer get the best results for their custom design is very important and the more that you educate your customer, the more he will appreciate it and have confidence in you. If you will obtain all of this information upfront from the customer, both you and the customer will be happier with the end result. You will save a lot of time by not having to ask questions as you are trying to get his perfect sew out done and he will see you as an expert embroiderer.