Side-by-side
| Embroidery | Printing | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Raised, textured, premium | Flat, smooth |
| Durability | Lasts as long as the garment | Depends on method; sublimation lasts longest |
| Best size | Small to medium logos | Any size, including full back prints |
| Detail | Limited for tiny text and gradients | Fine detail and photo-quality |
| Colours | Usually up to around 12 thread colours | Unlimited with sublimation or DTF |
| Fabrics | Medium to heavy fabrics | Any, depending on method |
When to embroider
- Polos and shirts: a chest logo looks professional and survives daily washing.
- Chef coats: logos and chef names.
- Jackets and caps: structured fabrics hold stitches well.
- Cricket whites: badges on white fabric.
When to print
- Large designs: back prints on T-shirts or hoodies.
- Sportswear: names, numbers and sponsors on polyester kits (sublimation).
- Lightweight fabrics: printing avoids puckering on thin fabrics.
- Complex artwork: gradients, photos and fine text.
Combining both
A typical corporate or restaurant programme might use:
- embroidered logos on polos and chef coats;
- printed back designs on event T-shirts;
- sublimated designs on staff sports-day kits.
Preparing your logo
- For embroidery: we convert your logo to a stitch file (digitising). Simple, bold logos stitch best.
- For printing: vector files (AI, PDF, SVG) give the sharpest results.
We recommend the right method for each garment in your quote. See corporate uniforms and polo shirts.
Frequently asked questions
Can any logo be embroidered?
Most can. Very fine text, tiny details and gradients are hard to embroider; we may suggest a simplified version for stitching.
Is embroidery more expensive?
Embroidery cost depends on stitch count and size. For small chest logos it is often similar to printing; large back designs cost more to embroider.