What is a VECTOR?

(PSA: Aviation nerds, settle down. It’s not what you think. Also, we're aviation nerds, too.)

So, you’ve got a great idea. You can literally see the image in your head. Now, the question is: how do you get it into the physical realm and into the medium of patch design?

What “patch “ companies don’t tell you is that your idea/sketch/photo collage all have to be translated into the language of a computer. AND, that good outcomes start with proper preparations. They can skip fine tuning if you don’t know what that tuning is.

Your image must be re-imaged in a graphic design software suite. Some are inexpensive, while others are a bit more costly but have better design outputs.

Good old Warren Buffet said, “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”

Insomuch as you “pay” for a “free” vector from a patch company (did they cold-call you a million times after you submitted your idea?), the value of the final product might quite literally suffer due to the lack of cost.

Let us dive deeper into the world of vector graphics. Inside the computer program, an “artist” will likely take the path of least resistance and most efficiency: trace your image. They will trace it and color it in in partitions called "layers." A layer's order will then determine what pixels are juxtaposed over which, creating the depth of the digital image. This will generate mathematical equations and sets of color codes that the computer can now read to project an image onto your screen. This sounds cool! We agree. Also, it will quite literally look sharp because of the point-to-point aspect ratio they used. They send it your way, and you react: “Sweet! That looks killer.” BUT… that is not where your vector design ends.

This newly minted vector now needs input into a new software program designed to tell an embroidery machine how to embroider the image. Just like the mathematical equations read by the computer for producing an image, the machine needs to read the file and know what layers of thread need to be laid down, where to lay them down, what order to lay them in, and last but NOT LEAST what direction and style of threading to put that part of the design down to make the finished product look its absolute best.

Some art looks incredible with simplicity (take one-line illustrations for instance), but without attention paid to the little things, outcomes oftentimes fall short of our expectations. Just because the JPEG in your inbox looks good, doesn’t mean that vector will be embroidered well enough for your attractive design to show through. For that to happen, know-how and attention must be paid to depth. Creating depth is a skill that needs to be learned in every medium, and embroidery is no exception.

Let’s go back to your thumbs up to the “free” vector. You hit the button and paid for your rad new design. This is where most companies will automate the process. Why not, they’ve already got you hooked. The free design company then uploads the digital vector they just created for you (and more specifically for your computer screen) and into their embroidery software. Like you hit the button, they smash that “auto digitize” option and start production of your patch without looking back. They don’t care how the embroidery vector populates. They've already got your money. What is the problem with that, you say?

Well, circling back to depth. A computer may verywell make choices not in YOUR best interest (your interest is for your design to look its best, right?). If your designer doesn’t help you understand this, they can’t make change suggestions to your patch AND will not think about how the auto-digitization process doesn’t translate well to the embroidery machine. This is detrimental to the design turning out well. For instance, you have a detailed design, but they embroider it at a low thread count on a machine that can’t handle the complexity of your design.

At Bubba’s Patches, we have made all the mistakes you can think of when it comes to this process, and we now hold the knowledge required to make top notch embroidered artwork. We produce high quality products with the final product in mind (not just the first step: getting a potential customer to fall prey to a sales funnel).

Thank you for taking your time to read our little Master Class session on patch design. If you take anything away from your time with us today, I hope it’s this: FREE(DOM) ISN’T FREE! Rah.