Digitizer Challenge Results

The original post can be located here:
http://www.digitsmith.com/digitizer-challenge-16616.html

Hello embroiderers and digitizers.... I posted a thread a few weeks ago asking digitizers to take a TEST, just using the same design for everyone so embroiderers who contract the work out can compare the same design. Well this TEST isn't so much a Pass or Fail, but really the point behind this was to show how the same design gets interpreted so many different ways.

This is the email that was sent out to anyone who applied:
Hey Name-

Sweet.... *You may digitize however you want, all I ask is the "S" be a satin stitch (I know satin stitches aren't usually this long, but I have my reasons LOL). *File will open to size. *I look forward to sewing your work. *Need a .dst file. *No rush.

Attached you will find the original artwork I sent to the digitizers (.pdf file) which when opened opens up at 4" wide. The first pic is the 4 original designs I had done about 4-5 years ago (I since added the red dots in the T). I currently use the digitizer in the upper left of the first page. You can see how the same design was digitized so differently.

I kicked the idea around for awhile about "grading" the designs, however I don't think it's fair I'm the one who says Pass or Fail. It comes down to the embroiderer and how they feel about the file that was returned. I could of spelled it out exactly how I wanted the design to be programmed but then that's missing the point. However I will say this is what I looked for:
1. Size come back the way I sent it out?
2. First T: Do the Red circles look circular or more egg shaped?
3. E: How is the Blend? (Brown to a White)
4. E: Does the E have rounded corners?
5. E: Is the circle circular or egged shaped? I preferred satin stitches for this part.
6. S: All I asked was to make it a satin stitch, some people did some didn't. See how well the digitizer listens to what the embroiderer (customer) wants.
7. T: Was the outline similar to the original artwork?
8. Lines: Do the lines have round ends?

Now everyone can judge for themselves. I used a controlled environment for the testing. I used the same machine for all designs, I did not edit the designs in anyway, just opened them up to get color sequences. I ran the machine at 700 spm for all the designs. I had people take the test who just started digitizing and some who have been doing this for years. Both US and international digitizers are represented. Some digitizers charged as little as $1 a 1000 and some up to $16 a 1000.

So in conclusion, this isn't a contest on "who's the best" its a reality check to show how a design is perceived by different people and how different the results will turn out. Hope this helped other embroiderers in my situation. The last pic will show the design page with layout with the digitizers first name. Any digitizer who submitted a design can let the forum know who you are by first name and correlated design. Thanks to everyone who participated.

I'll try to post some better pics in a day or so, just been busy with orders and trying to sewout all entries.