Is Your Image Ready for Embroidery? Free Checker
Drop in your logo and enter the finished size to see whether it's ready for embroidery. The checker measures resolution at that size, counts likely thread colors, and flags thin lines, possible small text and gradients. It runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded. It doesn't create a stitch file, but it tells you what a digitizer will need to fix.
Your image is checked in your browser and never uploaded. Nothing is stored or sent unless you choose to attach it to a quote.
Placement sizes are common starting points, not fixed rules. Enter your real finished size below.
The embroidered size of the artwork itself, not the garment or the image file.
The five checks
What to do
This checker doesn't digitize or produce a stitch file. It measures the image automatically against general guidance thresholds (not fixed rules), can't read text, and doesn't check whether you have the right to use the artwork. A digitizer reviews the real artwork on every order.
Likely price tier (estimate)
Flat rate per design from the published price list. Your digitizer confirms the tier and price on the quote.
Get this digitized. First design free → Need a clean vector first? Doing it yourself? Read the guideUK customers: get a quote in £
Your artwork
Main colors
What makes an image good for embroidery?
1. Resolution at the finished size. What matters isn't the file's DPI setting but how many pixels cover each inch of the embroidered design. The checker divides the artwork's pixel width by the finished width. Around 150 pixels per inch gives a digitizer clean edges to follow; under about 75, curves and small shapes turn into guesswork and have to be redrawn. Vector files (SVG, AI, EPS, PDF) have no pixel limit.
2. Thread colors. Every distinct color usually becomes a thread change. The checker groups similar shades and ignores anti-aliased edge pixels, then reports roughly how many threads the design needs. Up to about 8 is comfortable; above 15 usually means shading or a photo that has to be simplified.
3. Thin lines. Satin stitches need width to lie flat. The checker measures stroke widths at the finished size and reports the thinnest common lines. As a rule of thumb, lines under about 1 mm are fragile in stitches and under 0.5 mm often disappear, so they are thickened or removed.
4. Small details and possible small text. Small shapes sitting in a row usually mean lettering. The checker can't read text, but it flags "possible small text" when those shapes are under about 6 mm tall at the finished size, because small lettering tends to fill in. Taglines and fine print are the usual suspects.
5. Gradients and photo-like shading. Embroidery thread is one solid color at a time. Smooth gradients, soft shadows and photos have to be interpreted as bands of color or special fill techniques, which takes more work and changes the look. Flat colors stitch best.
How to check your image (step by step)
- Add your image. Drop a PNG, JPG, WEBP, GIF, SVG or PDF logo onto the drop zone, or try the sample logo.
- Enter the finished size. Pick a placement to start from, then type the real embroidered width or height in inches or millimeters.
- Choose the garment (optional). The garment only changes the advice text, not the measurements.
- Run the check. The checker measures resolution at that size, counts likely thread colors and looks for thin lines, possible small text and gradients.
- Read the results and advice. Each check shows a status, the measured value and what to do about it, plus the likely price tier.
- Send it for digitizing. Use the quote link to send the artwork. The image is only sent if you attach it to your quote.
What size will my logo be embroidered?
The finished size depends on the garment, the placement and your customer, so always check it before ordering. The placement options in the checker are common starting points you can change:
| Placement | Checker starting point | Why size matters |
|---|---|---|
| Left chest | 3.5 in wide | Small, so thin lines and taglines are the usual problems. |
| Cap front | 2 in tall | Height is limited by the cap front, so lettering gets small quickly. |
| Sleeve | 3 in wide | Narrow placement; simple, bold artwork works best. |
| Full front | 10 in wide | Room for detail, but large fills add stitches and stiffness. |
| Jacket back | 11 in wide | Large and heavy; low-resolution images show their limits here. |
If the checker flags thin lines or small text, it also suggests a larger finished size that would bring them up to the guidance thresholds. Not sure what the design will cost? See the flat-rate price list.
Vector vs. JPG or PNG for embroidery
A JPG or PNG is a grid of pixels, so it has a size limit and soft edges. A vector file (AI, EPS, SVG or PDF from a design app) describes shapes mathematically, so it stays sharp at any size and gives the digitizer exact outlines. Both can be digitized, but a vector usually means fewer questions and a cleaner result.
Neither is an embroidery file. A digitizer still has to plan every stitch. If your logo only exists as a small or blurry image, a hand-traced vector redraw (a flat price per design) gives you a clean master file for embroidery, print and signage. To open an AI or EPS file without Illustrator, use the AI & EPS viewer.
What happens next
- Request a quote. Send the artwork, finished size, garment and machine format. Your first design is free if you're a new registered business (Simple or Medium, standard turnaround).
- A digitizer reviews it. The PlixaLabs digitizing team confirms the tier (Simple, Medium or Complex) and the flat price per design from the price list.
- You get a preview and your files. Standard turnaround is 4–8 hours (24/7), with rush 2–4 hours or super rush 1–2 hours for +50%. Every order includes a stitch simulation preview and all machine formats.
- Revise until it's right. Revisions are unlimited, with no time limit.
Image checker FAQ
Related free tools
PlixaLabs is a trading name of Zorixo Ventures, LLC (USA) and Zorixo Ventures Ltd (England & Wales, Co. No. 15975548).
Ready or not, we can digitize it.
Hand-digitized by the PlixaLabs digitizing team, digitizing since 2015. Flat price per design, set by complexity: see the price list. Standard turnaround 4–8 hours, 24/7.