Is my photo suitable for embroidery?
Almost every photo makes a beautiful drawing.
Good news: almost all photos can be embroidered. These tips will help you get the best results. And you always approve the design yourself first.
Short answer
Almost always, as long as the head is fully in the frame, the photo is sharp and the light is coming from the front. The fewer people in one embroidery, the more recognizable it will be. We check every photo before we begin.
A photo isn’t simply turned into embroidery. First, we trace it by hand to create a drawing on a tablet in our studio. No automatic conversion, no AI. Only then does the drawing become thread.
The three rules
These are the things that most often go wrong.
The entire head is visible.
We can’t fill in a cropped head, half an ear, or a chin just outside the frame. For group photos, also check who’s standing at the edge.
For standing people: omit the legs.
On a ten-centimeter embroidery, a full figure would make the head so small that no one would be recognisable. Choose a crop down to the hips or knees, or leave it to us when you place your order.
The fewer people, the better.
Two people on the chest works great. Six people is also possible, but then preferably large on the back and as a line drawing.
Checklist for a Good Photo
- Sharp. Send the original, not a screenshot or a photo that has already been forwarded through a chat app.
- Light from the front. Backlighting turns a face into a dark, shapeless spot.
- A simple background. We’ll need to mentally remove everything behind the person.
- Eyes visible. No sunglasses or deep shadows: the eyes make a portrait recognizable.
- True colors if you choose a color portrait. Yellow artificial light or a filter gives the wrong thread colors.
For example, an old photo, or one of someone who’s no longer with us. Feel free to send them. We’ll do what we can with them and be honest about what you can expect.
Line drawing or colored in?
When ordering, you can choose between two styles. Both are based on the same drawing.
Line drawing. Contours only, in a single thread color. Subtle and refined, up to 28 cm wide.
Filled in with color. Each area gets its own thread color. Fuller and closer to the photo, up to 12 cm in size.
Sweater with line drawing →Sweater with a colored-in photo →
Does it work with pets?
Excellent, often even better than with people. Ears, muzzle and fur provide clear lines. The same rules apply: the head should be fully in the frame, in focus, and preferably at your pet’s eye level. Does your dog or cat have a distinctive coat color? Then a color portrait is usually the best choice.
Unsure about your photo?
Read the full article: Is your photo suitable for embroidery? →
Any questions?
We’d be happy to help. We can’t take calls because of the noise from the embroidery machines, but you can send us a message.
