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SE.Merch Embroidery Guidelines

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Updated

Tips to create your Embroidered Merch

Disclaimers: 

  • Designs that don’t follow embroidery guidelines might be put on hold and subject to approval before being embroidered for the first time. 

  1. What is embroidery?

    Embroidery is the process of sewing a design onto cloth rather than printing it. Instead of using ink, embroidery uses different color threads to create the decoration. 

  2. Why do I need to design differently for embroidery?

    While you have a lot of freedom to create fine details and nearly unlimited color choices in printed merch, embroidery has a couple of limitations. Because embroidery uses threads instead of ink, your designs should be less detailed. When it comes to embroidered merch, simple and bold designs look best.

  3. Products for Embroidery

    • Beanies -  Brand Style: Yupoong 1501KC  | Available in 9 colors

    • Trucker Hats - Brand Style: Yupoong 6606 | Available in 10 colors

    • Snapbacks - Brand Style: Yupoong 6089M | Available in 20 colors

    • Baseball Caps - Brand Style: Yupoong 6245CM | Available in 11 colors

  4. How SE.Merch embroidery works

    1. Use our design editor or upload your own original design

    2. The details and colors of your design will be simplified to optimize it for embroidery

    3. Check out the mockup preview of your product  and order a sample to see your final product!

       

       

      How to Create Embroidered Designs

  5. Design Tips: Things to Avoid When Designing Embroidered Merch 

    • Avoid designs with intricate, small details.

    • Don’t use small, fine text

    • Don’t use gradients in your designs.

    • Be careful with delicate, script fonts.

    • Avoid colors not available in our thread selection, such as neons and pastels.

    • Avoid designs that use low opacity (such as the clouds in the above rainbow design.) 

    • Don’t use more than 6 colors (6 is the max number of threads a design can us

    • Please make sure all design elements are filled with solid color except the background.

    • Don’t make designs with negative space (transparent cut outs.) Depending on the fabric of the product you’re embroidering on, the negative space might come out warped or we may fill in the negative spaces with a thread color matching the base product.

      What else should I avoid?

    • Don’t use photographs

    • Avoid graphics that look textured or distressed

      *IMPORTANT NOTE: Please remember that the embroidery mockup we provide you is just that: a mockup. The end product may look different due to the handmade nature of each product. This is why we strongly recommend ordering samples of any product you plan to sell to your community.

  6. Embroidery File Requirements for SE.Merch

    If you choose to create your designs using a design program instead of SE.Merch’s design editor, make sure you follow these guidelines: 

    • Export design as a high resolution PNG. (Ideally 300dpi)

    • Use colors from our available threads. (Hex codes are provided.)

    • Background of the design needs to be transparent

    • Limit design to 6 unique colors or less. If you use more than 6 colors, our design editor will automatically simplify the design for you.

    • NO text smaller than 0.25” (6.4 mm) or 36pt font

  7. Embroidery Design Dimensions for SE.Merch

    The below dimensions represent the maximum embroidery area. If you use a design program rather than our editor and your design is larger than the hat’s max embroidery area, the design will not fit.

    • Baseball Caps | Width: 4″ (10.16cm) | Height: 1.75″ (4.4cm)

    • Trucker Hats | Width: 4″ (10.16cm) | Height: 1.75″ (4.4cm)

    • Snapbacks | Width: 5.5″ (14cm) |  Height: 2″ (5cm)

    • Beanies | Width: 5″ (12.7cm) | Height: 1.75″ (4.4cm) 

  8. Embroidery Thread Colors on SE.Merch

    When designing your embroidery, it’s best to use colors found in the below table as these are the available threads. If your design doesn’t use these exact colors, our design editor will find the closest match available.

    Hex Codes:

    These codes should be used in your design program of choice for ease of color-matching. To use them, open your design program’s color picker and there you should find a place to paste in your hex code(s).

    • White: #FFFFFF

    • Black: #000000

    • Grey: #96A1A8

    • Old Gold: #A67843

    • Gold: #FFCC00

    • Orange: #E25C27

    • Flamingo: #CC3366

    • Red: #CC3333

    • Maroon: #660000

    • Navy: #333366

    • Royal: #005397

    • Aqua/Teal: #3399FF

    • Purple: #6B5294

    • Kelly Green: #01784E

    • Kiwi Green: #7BA35A

Embroidery FAQ

Are there a max number of colors that can be used in a design?

Yes; you are limited to a maximum of 6 thread colors per embroidery design.

The thread colors the design editor chose do not match my design. What should I do?

The design editor will have 3 thread colors chosen by default. You can change any of the colors by clicking the swatch and choosing a replacement.

What are the best types of designs to use?

The best kind of designs for embroidery are designs that are simple, bold, and use thick lines or color-blocking. Designs with small intricate details work well for printed designs but don’t translate well in embroidery. For detailed tips and tricks, please visit our Embroidery Guidelines page.

How can I see a preview of the embroidery?

After uploading your design or creating it using the design editor, click “Next” to generate a mockup of your design.

How long does it take to generate a preview of my hat?

Please allow up to 90 seconds for your preview to be generated. Try not to refresh the page during that time so the process doesn’t reset.

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