Embroidery is one of the most commonly used decoration methods in DecoNetwork. Proper configuration ensures accurate pricing, realistic stitch count estimates, correct thread color selection, and appropriate production files for your embroidery workflow.
This article explains how to configure the Embroidery decoration process, including pricing by stitch count, thread color palettes, digitizing fees, production settings, and stitch estimation.
In This Article
- Prerequisites
- Why Configure Embroidery?
- Step 1: Configure General Settings
- Step 2: Create Embroidery Price Tables
- Step 3: Configure Production Settings
- Step 4: Configure Designer Settings
- Step 5: Configure the Thread Color Palette
- Step 6: Configure Digitizing Fees
- Step 7: Configure Decoration Pricing
- Best Practice Tips
- Troubleshooting
- FAQs
- Additional Resources
Prerequisites
- You have Administrator access.
- The Embroidery decoration process has been enabled.
- You know your embroidery pricing model.
- You know the thread brand and colors used by your business.
Why Configure Embroidery?
Correctly configuring Embroidery allows you to:
- Automatically calculate embroidery pricing from estimated or actual stitch counts.
- Restrict uploaded artwork to the number of thread colors your machines can produce.
- Offer customers only the thread colors you actually stock.
- Automatically charge digitizing fees when non-embroidery artwork is uploaded.
- Generate the embroidery file formats required by your production software.
- Improve pricing accuracy by adjusting DecoNetwork's stitch estimation.
Step 1: Configure General Settings
Navigate to:
Admin → Decoration Processes → Embroidery → General Settings
Configure the basic embroidery options.
Recommended settings include:
- Minimum Order Quantity - Set your embroidery minimum order quantity.
- Maximum Artwork Colors - Limit uploaded artwork to the maximum number of thread colors your embroidery machines support.
For example, if your embroidery machine supports 15 needles, set the maximum artwork colors to 15 so customers cannot upload designs requiring more colors than your equipment can produce.
Embroidery General Settings
Step 2: Create Embroidery Price Tables
Navigate to:
Admin → Decoration Processes → Embroidery → Price Tables
Embroidery pricing is commonly based on stitch count.
When artwork is uploaded:
- DST and EMB embroidery files contain the exact stitch count.
- Vector and bitmap artwork use DecoNetwork's stitch estimation based on artwork size.
Create stitch count ranges that match your pricing model.
| Stitch Count | Price |
|---|---|
| 0–7,000 | Base price |
| 7,001–8,000 | Higher price |
| 8,001–9,000 | Higher price |
| 9,001–10,000 | Higher price |
| Each additional 1,000 stitches | Additional charge |
Many embroidery shops now simplify pricing into broader ranges instead of charging for every small increase in stitch count.
For example:
| Stitch Count | Typical Use |
|---|---|
| 0–4,000 | Simple names or text |
| 4,001–15,000 (or 20,000) | Most logos, hats and left chest designs |
| Each additional 1,000 stitches | Additional surcharge |
Embroidery Price Table
Step 3: Configure Production Settings
Navigate to:
Admin → Decoration Processes → Embroidery → Production Settings
Select the embroidery file formats that will be generated for production.
Most embroidery workflows should generate:
- DST
- EM
If you use Wilcom, ensure the selected output format matches the version supported by your embroidery software.
Embroidery Production Settings
Step 4: Configure Designer Settings
Navigate to:
Admin → Decoration Processes → Embroidery → Designer Settings
Configure how embroidery artwork behaves in the Online Designer and Business Hub.
Pay particular attention to:
- Upload permissions.
- Artwork options.
- Image color matching.
For Match Images to Palette, most embroidery shops limit artwork to approximately 9 colors, helping keep uploaded artwork realistic for embroidery production.
Embroidery Designer Settings
Step 5: Configure the Thread Color Palette
Navigate to:
Admin → Decoration Processes → Embroidery → Color Palette
Unlike print decoration methods, embroidery requires each color in a design to correspond to a spool of thread.
Rather than allowing unlimited colors, create a thread palette that reflects the thread inventory available in your shop.
A common approach is to:
- Add a new palette.
- Copy an existing embroidery thread palette.
- Select your thread brand (such as Madeira Polyneon 40).
- Remove colors you do not stock.
- Keep a second complete palette available if you occasionally order specialty thread colors.
This allows customers to select only thread colors you can actually produce.
Embroidery Color Palette
Step 6: Configure Digitizing Fees
Navigate to:
Admin → Decoration Processes → Embroidery → Artwork Fee
Non-embroidery artwork such as vector or bitmap images must be digitized before production.
Configure your Digitizing Fee so DecoNetwork automatically charges for this service whenever appropriate.
Digitizing fees can also vary by Price Level, allowing preferred customers to receive discounted digitizing charges.
Embroidery Artwork Fee
Step 7: Configure Decoration Pricing
Navigate to:
Admin → Decoration Processes → Decoration Pricing → Embroidery Pricing
Complete the embroidery configuration by:
- Selecting the embroidery price table you created.
- Mapping it to the decoration process.
- Configuring the Approximate Stitches per Square Inch (or Square Centimeter).
This value controls how DecoNetwork estimates stitch counts for vector and bitmap artwork.
If stitch estimates are consistently:
- Too low, increase the stitches per square inch.
- Too high, decrease the stitches per square inch.
Fine-tuning this value improves pricing accuracy for artwork that has not yet been digitized.
Embroidery Decoration Pricing
Best Practice Tips
- Set the maximum artwork colors to match your embroidery machine's needle count.
- Use thread palettes that reflect your actual inventory.
- Simplify stitch pricing into broad ranges where appropriate.
- Always configure a digitizing fee for non-embroidery artwork.
- Review stitch estimation accuracy periodically and adjust the stitches-per-area value if required.
- Verify generated DST and EM files before production.
Troubleshooting
Pricing seems too high or too low
Review your stitch count ranges and adjust the Approximate Stitches per Square Inch value if artwork estimates are inaccurate.
Customers can select thread colors you don't stock
Remove unavailable colors from your thread palette or create a custom palette containing only stocked thread colors.
Digitizing fees are not being charged
Verify that a digitizing fee has been configured under Artwork Fee and confirm the uploaded artwork is not already an EM or DST embroidery file.
Generated embroidery files aren't compatible with production software
Check the selected production output formats and confirm they match your embroidery software requirements.
FAQs
How does DecoNetwork determine stitch count?
For DST and EM embroidery files, DecoNetwork reads the actual stitch count. For bitmap and vector artwork, it estimates stitch count based on artwork size and the configured stitch density.
Can I charge different digitizing fees for different customers?
Yes. Digitizing fees can be configured separately for each Price Level.
Should embroidery always be priced by stitch count?
No. While stitch count pricing is common, many shops use simplified pricing ranges based on typical logo sizes to make pricing easier for staff and customers.
Why should I limit thread colors?
Restricting artwork colors prevents customers from submitting designs requiring more thread colors than your embroidery equipment can produce.
Additional Resources
Still have questions? Use the Search Tool at the top of the page to find more related guides. Need help? Click the icon to submit a support ticket – our Client Services team is ready to assist!
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