Is your photo suitable for embroidery?
A photo first becomes a drawing and only then embroidery. Here’s how to choose the photo that will produce the best result, and how to choose between a line drawing and a coloured photo.
Your family, your dog or your grandparents on a jumper: one of the loveliest gifts there is. With the right photo, it also becomes a drawing in which you recognise them straight away.
Short answer: A photo is suitable if every head is fully in the frame, the photo is sharp and the light comes from the front. The fewer people in one embroidery, the more recognisable. Not sure? Feel free to send it: we will tell you honestly whether it will work.
Why does a photo first become a drawing?
A photo contains thousands of colour nuances, shadows and transitions. In thread, those do not exist: there is no semi-transparent thread and no soft shadow. There is a line, or there is no line.
That is why Louise first traces every photo by hand on a tablet. No automatic conversion, no AI. What remains is contour: the shape of a jaw, the line of a nose, the fall of someone's hair. That is exactly what makes an embroidered portrait recognisable, and exactly why a photo with lots of shadow and little contour works less well.
A simple drawing takes about half an hour. If a whole family is in it, it quickly becomes several hours.
Line drawing or colour photo: which do you choose?
Both styles start from the same hand-drawn line drawing. What happens next is different.
| Line drawing | Colour photo | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | The outline of your photo in one thread colour of your choice | Areas of colour, matched to your photo |
| Size | About 10 × 10 cm; large on the front or back is also possible | Maximum 12 cm, even for a large design |
| Feel | Graphic, light and supple | Fuller and denser on the fabric |
| Ideal for | 1 to 3 people or pets, or a large design | Pets with a distinctive coat, or when likeness matters most |
| Sweater from | €54,95 | €74,95 |
Good to know: with a colour photo, too, you first receive the line drawing for approval. The colouring happens afterwards, in our embroidery software.
Which three rules go wrong most often?
- The head is fully in the frame A cropped crown, half an ear, a chin just out of shot: we cannot make that up. What is not in the photo, we cannot draw. Check this for group photos too, for whoever is standing at the edge.
- For people standing up: crop off the legs It sounds harsh, but it is one of our best tips. With someone standing upright, half the image is legs and trousers, and on a 10 cm embroidery the head then becomes too small to recognise. A crop to the hip or the knee works much better. You can also leave that to us: just mention it with your order.
- The fewer people, the better Every extra face makes every face smaller. Two people on the chest works perfectly. With six people, you are better off choosing a larger placement, such as the back, and a line drawing rather than colour.
What makes a photo technically suitable?
- Sharp. On your phone a slightly blurry photo does not stand out, but vague contours leave the illustrator guessing. Send the original, not a screenshot or a photo compressed by a chat app.
- Light from the front. Backlight turns a face into a dark patch without contour. Soft light from the front or the side gives the most detail.
- Calm background. The busier the background, the harder it is to see what belongs to whom.
- Eyes visible. No sunglasses, no deep shadow. Eyes make a portrait recognisable.
- True colours, if you choose colour. Yellow artificial light or a strong filter gives us the wrong colours to work with.
You will also find a short checklist on the page Is my photo suitable for embroidery?
Does it also work with a photo of your pet?
Very well, often even better than with people. Ears, muzzle and the fur around the head are distinct contours that translate beautifully into line work. The same rules apply: head fully in the frame, sharp, and ideally taken at the animal's eye level rather than from above.
Does your dog or cat have a striking coat colour or markings? Then colour is often the most beautiful choice. A pet in colour on a sweater starts at €54,95.
And if your photo is not ideal?
Then we will tell you. We look at every photo before we start drawing. If the result would be disappointing, we ask whether you have another one. Better an honest message beforehand than a disappointment in a parcel.
Sometimes a photo is not perfect but it is the only one, for example of someone who is no longer with us or an old photo from years ago. Feel free to mention that. Then we get out of it what we can and together we keep expectations realistic.
You approve your drawing first: You receive the drawing by email first. You can approve it or ask for changes, and we only embroider once you have given the go-ahead. So do check your spam folder too. The only exception: with express delivery we do not send the line drawing for approval first.
Found your photo?
Frequently asked questions
Can I combine several photos into one drawing?
Yes, for example two people who were never in a photo together. State it clearly with your order, as it is extra drawing work.
Can an old or damaged photo still work?
Often, yes. We simply leave out scratches and stains. What does not work is detail that has already disappeared from the photo itself.
Which file should I send?
A regular jpg or png from your phone or camera. The less often the photo has been forwarded, the better: every forward compresses it again.
Can I get just the drawing, without embroidery?
Yes, with the digital line drawing. You then receive a file, usually drawn within 3 days.
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