What File Format Do I Need for Logo Embroidery? | Brandify

It's one of the most common questions we get before a first order: "What format does my logo need to be in?"

The short answer: vector files are ideal, but don't worry if you don't have one — we deal with this every day and will tell you straight away if there's a problem.

Here's the longer version.

The ideal formats for embroidery

Vector files are the gold standard. These are files where the artwork is built from mathematical paths rather than pixels, which means they can be scaled to any size without losing quality. The most common vector formats are:

• AI (Adobe Illustrator) — the original working file if your logo was designed in Illustrator
• EPS — a widely compatible vector format, often the best format to request from a designer
• SVG — a vector format increasingly used for web and digital, but works well for embroidery purposes
• PDF — can contain vector artwork if saved correctly from a design application

If your logo was designed by a graphic designer or branding agency, they should be able to supply one of these formats on request.

What happens to the file?

Here's something many people don't know: even with a perfect vector file, embroidery requires an additional step called digitising. This is the process of converting your logo into a stitch file — a format that tells the embroidery machine exactly where to place each stitch, in what direction, and in what order.

Digitising is a skilled process. A logo that looks sharp on screen can behave differently when stitched: fine lines may need thickening, very small text may need simplifying, and gradients (which embroidery can't replicate) need to be converted to solid colours.

At Brandify, we handle digitising in-house. There's a one-off setup fee for this, and once your logo is digitised and saved, you never pay it again — reorders use the same file.

What if I don't have a vector file?

Don't panic. A lot of people come to us with a logo saved as a JPEG or PNG from their website, or a photo on their phone.

Here's what matters: resolution and clarity. If you send us a JPEG or PNG, it needs to be:

• At least 300dpi (dots per inch) — the higher the better
• Large enough to see all the detail clearly — ideally at the actual print size or larger
• Not blurry, pixelated, or compressed

A small, low-resolution logo saved from a website at 72dpi is the one that causes problems. We'll tell you immediately if the file you've sent won't work, and we'll advise on what to do.

In many cases, we can work with a high-quality raster file and still produce a clean result. For very complex logos, we may recommend a slight simplification — we'll always show you a proof before anything goes to production.

What about colour?

If your brand has specific Pantone or hex colours, let us know. Embroidery thread doesn't perfectly replicate every Pantone shade, but we can get very close using the nearest thread match and will always show you the colour reference on your proof.

For screen printing, Pantone matching is more precise and we can typically hit your exact brand colour.

The simplest approach

Send us what you have. Whether it's an AI file from your designer, a JPEG from your website, or a photo of your logo on the side of your van — just send it and we'll tell you what we can do with it. We never start production without your sign-off on a proof, so there are no nasty surprises.

Get a quote and upload your logo →

Quick reference: artwork formats

Still not sure? Just email your file to sales@brandify.ltd and we'll give you a straight answer within a few hours.

Brandify is an Essex-based embroidery and workwear supplier with over 35 years of experience. We handle digitising in-house and work with logos of all shapes, sizes, and formats.