Trims or not ?

I agree with that point. I think also it depends how our customers are able to explain to their own customers on their end about the process. If they are able to explain the pros and cons in a very informative way from having experience the customer is more likely to be ok with changes or go ahead with what we think will be the cleanest and run the best in production.

You also have those that feel that they have to find something wrong with everything so that they feel they are getting their moneys worth. I had a customer once who said everything was great but move the whole design over 1/16th of an inch. (This was after looking at an actual sewout) not on a computer screen. I could understand moving a part of the design over but the whole design doesn't make sense.

I was a printer for 25 years before doing embroidery. We had a customer that we learned early on to make two black plates for the printing. One with an obvious error for him to find and the other the correct way following his original artwork. Until he found something wrong on the first production ready print sheet, he would nbot approve the job. It also amazed him that once he found the error, just how fast we were able to correct it.

I have run into the same problem with embroidery customers. If you have one that is a repeat customer, then when you digitize his job, do it twice. Once with an obvious mistake for him to have you fix and one already fixed.

This customer would have been shown the door before I ever went as far to burn a separate screen with an error on it. That's crazy. He would have stopped that BS after the firt 150.00 press check fee for wasting production time.

You cant guess...you gota start working with them and see exactly what their requirement is and then set those standards for that particular client.

hi, yes sometimes it feels you are wrong either way you go. You could come up with a list of common questions... and of course you will need to add to it as things come up... keep a note card or something for each client and when they order you will know their preferences? Questions like: (to start)

1) when submitting art please advise if the embroidery is solid or if the areas within the art that are the same color as the background color are to be left open for the fabric to show through. If no instructions are given then we, in the interest of saving you stitches and money, will assume they are to be left open.
2) do you prefer closest point connection on lettering ? or do you want a trim between each letter that does not obviously touch?
3)What is the standard size you want your cap designs? If no instructions are given then we will digitize them at 2.25 inches tall or 4 inches wide, whichever comes first
4)What is the standard size you want your left chest designs? If no instructions are given then we will digitize them no larger than 3.75 inches wide or 3.5 inches tall, whichever comes first
5)What is the standard size you want your Full Back designs? If no instructions are given then we will digitize them 10 inches wide or 10 inches tall, whichever comes first

(these dimensions are important since we don't know what hoop sizes each client has.. many home sewers cannot sew these sizes for example)

6) Do you offer thinner 60wt thread for fine detail work and lettering? If not then the minimum letter height we will digitize for you will be 5mm or .2 inches tall on most fonts. Without instructions then any lettering on your art that is smaller than this will either be enlarged if there is room, OR we will do as running stitch letters.
7) when doing 3D foam, what thickness of foam do you stock?
8)

you get the idea... the more you can learn up front the easier your job will be. and if they have this information from you then there should not be a surprise when you digitize something a certain way or size.... and they should understand that since they failed to communicate differently up front there may be additional charges to change something after the fact.

My experience is that the majority of customers I deal with do not want trims because of production time. If I have a logo with gaps in between the letters I ask if they want to keep it which will require a trim after each letter slowing down production or can I go ahead and adjust the art on my end and bring the letters closer together. I feel that explaining to them ahead of time will alleviate most of the issues. Also, you will get to know each customer on their likes and dislikes. Some like to go with lower density, some like the higher density, some are ok with us to make changes on our own that we deem necessary and some want even the slightest change to be approved by them first. Once you develop an ongoing relationship with your customers you will know how to do their digitizing to their specified needs.