p70 Brother:Layout 1 17/08/2009 13:52 Page 70
FOCUS ON EMBROIDERY
He's my Brother
Embroidery is big business for printwear professionals
and it’s a potentially profitable service to offer to
customers. Geoff Taylor from Brother explains that with
the right equipment and a bit of creative spark, it’s all
very straightforward to get into…
A
t Brother, our sales team deals with quite a preview designs and speeding up the production adds to the flexibility you can offer your customers
few companies who’ve had requests for process. when it comes to creating their own designs.
embroidered products from their customers Having the right equipment is all very well, but if A print and stitch function will allow you to
and are investigating entering the market. They you want to go beyond pre-programmed template embellish the printed designs you may already be
want to go further than designs and start producing creating. By loading your printed design into your
offering a selection of really impressive designs for embroidery machine using the software, you can
template designs and they need to be able to your customers, you’ll need a then choose where to add stitches over the top –
complete jobs quickly solid piece of software, like Brother’s PE Design 8, a great way to combine two different kinds of
and effectively. They to help you convert your ideas into stitches. embellishment.
can’t take the risk of A sophisticated Auto cross stitch and appliqué functions will
investing large amounts software broaden the kinds of embellishments you can offer
in heavy-duty package will to customers even further, enabling you to create a
equipment and they allow you (or wide range of products using a variety of
need some your customers) techniques.
straightforward methodology to create your Photo-stitch functionality will enable you to offer
that will enable them to own designs your customers the ultimate in personalisation –
master this new skill set and then having their photos recreated as embroidered
quickly and enable them to convert them pictures on clothing. Whether it’s a memorable
produce impressive results. to embroidery holiday shot, a winning team portrait or the
If you’re just starting out data that your machine can company mascot, a photo-stitch feature will allow
or looking at small run transfer to clothing. In addition you to reproduce it to great effect on fabric.
jobs, the best to this, there are a few Ease of use is possibly one of the most important
investment is an other capabilities that things to look for in a software package –
entry-level should be included especially if you’re just starting out. Look out for
embroidery machine in a good piece of beginner modes that can help you get started
such as Brother’s embroidery. Here’s a while you get comfortable with the format and
new PR-650, which quick guide to the wizards that can guide you through the processes
will launch this features that could involved for the most common tools.
month (September). add to the success of
This semi-commercial your embroidery venture: For more information on Brother embroidery
machine has its own USB Built-in designs are useful to products, visit www.brother.co.uk/sewing or call
ports, allowing designs to be have – even if you intend to 08444 999444.
transferred to the machine without the need for a create your own individual motifs and images. A
computer – great for saving space in a small office good piece of software will
or workshop. come with at least 300 of
Before embarking on an embroidery venture, you these so that you can get
need to think about quality control. How are you stitching straightaway.
going to ensure you provide customers with the Realistic stitch preview is
kind of quality results they’ve come to expect from essential if you want to get a
you as a business? It’s important to have a good idea of what your
thorough discussion with the person ordering the design will look like before
design about their expectations before you even you start stitching. Things
accept the commission. If a customer has a logo don’t always look exactly how
with a lot of very intricate detailing, you need to you’d imagined them, so it’s
be able to show them accurately how this will look definitely worth checking
when it’s embroidered. Efficiency is also important everything before it’s too late.
and you’ll need to make sure you can deliver Built-in fonts are essential for
orders in a reasonable time frame. adding simple lettering to
To help with both of these issues, the PR-650 logos and slogans and a font
machine features an enhanced LCD screen for creator will allow you to
crystal clear previews of designs before stitching design your own fonts for
and faster processing making it quicker to edit and more bespoke designs. This
| 70 |September 2009 www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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