How To Create Badges
Expert Tips
Discover the art of badge creation with expert tips from Wilcom. Learn how to minimize distortions, customize designs, and master the techniques that bring badges to life. With step-by-step guidance and insider tips, this blog will help you take your badge-making skills to the next level.
Step-by-Step
1
Stabilize Your Canvas: When creating embroidered badges, start with stable fabric to support your design. A solid foundation allows you to reduce underlay and eliminate unnecessary overlaps, minimizing distortions and redundant stitches. Another tip: digitize your design from the center outward to further reduce distortions, ensuring a cleaner, more professional finish.
Trick: Reducing overlapping will save minutes on each badge, multiplied by the number of badges can reduce run time, significantly decreasing your overall costs.
2
Outline for Precision: Incorporate a run stitch outline around your badge design as a cutting guide for scissors or a knife. This outline will help prepare the badge for an overlocked edge. The overlock width may vary, but it typically measures around 3mm.
Tip:On some machines, the edge run can be replaced by a laser cutter, allowing the badge to be cut directly on the embroidery machine. Alternatively, a custom-shaped knife can be used to cut the design along the run stitch line. For a manual approach, Wilcom utilizes sharp scissors for precise cutting.
3
Optimize with Color Matching:To reduce bulkiness and stiffness, consider using a fabric color that matches the badge background. This choice not only enhances the visual consistency but also reduces the number of stitches and overall run time.
Tip: Successfully optimizing each step can significantly reduce run time in high-volume production.
4
Streamline with Mirror Merge: Use the Mirror Merge Tool in EmbroideryStudio Designing to quickly duplicate the logo for the machine hoop.
5
Simplify Color Sequencing:The Mirror Merge tool automatically re-sequences all colors in the design file. Alternatively, you can manually re-sequence it. The goal is to organize colors so each thread stitches across all logos at the same time.
Tip: This step alone will reduce thread change and significantly reduce machine run time without loss of registration.
6
Precision Cutting Techniques: Cut the badges with a circular knife or carefully by hand with sharp scissors. Use the stitch line as a guide.
Tip: Prevent unraveling by cutting with a hot knife or laser which fuses the edge of the rayon thread.
7
Personalize for Impact: Personalization adds an extra touch to your badge offerings. Use the Teamname feature to import a list of names, and each name will automatically be embroidered beneath each logo.
Tip: In all cases, the edge guide and satin border should be stitched last to avoid distorting the badge shape.
8
Perfect Finish with Overlocking or Satin Stitch:
Use a merrow overlocker to edge the badge. If your badge has acute angles, you must use a satin stitch as shown, instead of the merrow overlock.
Tip: If you want the overlock to run along the edge of the stitched badge set the offset for the guideline at approximately 1mm so you will end with a 2mm cover of the stitched badge.
Creating badges is effortless with Wilcom’s EmbroideryStudio software. Its smart functions streamline the badge-making process, making it easy for users of all skill levels.
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