Designing a Custom Patch? What a Professional Patch Design Agency Does

[jamesanderson]

Hi everyone,

We make custom patches here in Ireland, and a question we get a lot is whether it’s worth working with a professional patches design agency, or whether you can just send a logo and hope for the best. A design that looks great on a screen doesn’t always stitch well, so here’s what a good design service should do and how to get the most from it.

What a patch design agency actually does

Converts your logo or sketch into a design that works in thread, which is different from a printed graphic
Simplifies tiny details and thin lines that would blur once stitched
Suggests the right technique (embroidered, woven, PVC or leather) for your artwork
Matches colours as closely as possible to your brand
Shows you a digital proof before anything is made

Common design problems to avoid

Very small text. Lettering below a certain size becomes unreadable. Bold, simple fonts stitch best.
Too many colours. Each extra colour adds cost and complexity. Four or five is usually plenty.
Fine gradients and shadows. These are hard to reproduce in thread, so they’re usually reworked into solid shapes.
Wrong size for the placement. A design that works on a jacket back can look cramped on a cap.

How to brief a design team

Send your logo as a vector file (AI, EPS or SVG) if you have one
Tell them where the patch will go (jacket, cap, bag, uniform)
Give the size you’re thinking of, in millimetres
Share your brand colours or Pantone references
Say what the patch is for, such as a club, business or event

Questions to ask any provider

Do you include design help, or is it an extra charge?
How many proof revisions are included?
Will I see a digital mock-up before production?
Can you adjust the artwork if it won’t stitch cleanly?

If you’d like to see how our custom design service works, you can find us at embroideredpatches.ie. We’re happy to answer questions here about artwork, sizing or materials.

Has anyone had a patch come back looking different from the original design? What was the problem, and how was it fixed?