Canonical: https://www.merchandaise.com/en-us/guides/printing-embroidery-finishes Language: en-US # Choosing print, embroidery and finishes for your design Decoration changes how a design looks and how it needs to be produced. A printed composition, stitched logo, applied badge and surface finish are different design choices. Begin with the effect you want, then check which techniques are supported for the product, material and order you are considering. MerchandAise brings the visual discussion into interactive 3D so you can inspect placement and refine the idea with AI guidance. Technique availability, artwork requirements and commercial terms remain specific to the selected product and production option. ## Describe the effect before selecting a technique Decide what should attract attention: a large illustration, a quiet tonal mark, a textured logo or a detailed repeating pattern. Describe the intended feel as well as the appearance. A reference image can help communicate the direction, provided you have the rights needed to use any supplied artwork. For example, a team garment might combine a prominent front graphic with smaller identity marks. A bag might use one restrained logo. Packaging might place the emphasis on an opening surface or a particular finish. These are design briefs to assess against available production choices, not a promise that the same techniques apply to every category. ## Compare the supported ways to create that effect For a print option, discuss the artwork, colors, coverage and intended surface with the offered production method in mind. For embroidery, discuss how the artwork will be represented in stitches, including the treatment of fine detail and text. For an applied mark or badge, confirm the material, attachment and permitted placement. TPU can be one material used for an applied decoration where that exact option is supported. It is one possible design treatment alongside printing, embroidery and other finishes. Choose it because it suits the brief and confirmed production route, rather than treating it as a requirement for using the configurator. ## Prepare artwork for the actual production option Keep the best available original artwork and explain which parts must remain unchanged. Ask for the file format, color information and detail requirements for the selected technique. A file that looks clear at one screen size may still need preparation for production. Do not assume a preview upload is the final production file. If a logo contains small lettering, thin lines or a complex gradient, ask how those elements will be handled. The appropriate answer may be a different supported technique, a larger mark or an agreed simplified version. Approve the revised artwork explicitly so a practical adjustment does not unintentionally change your identity. - Identify the artwork owner and confirm permission to use the design. - Keep source artwork, intended colors and any brand rules together. - Confirm technique-specific preparation and proof requirements before production approval. ## Inspect placement from more than one angle Use the 3D product to check the front, back, sides and the relationship between separate marks. Compare scale against the whole object. Pay attention to visible edges, seams, folds and openings, then confirm the allowed decoration areas and relevant dimensions for the actual product. A graphic that appears centered from one angle may sit differently when viewed from the side. A design that uses several surfaces needs a clear treatment for each surface. Keep important text and marks within the confirmed production area rather than relying on the screen view alone to establish placement tolerances. ## Compare decoration with the same order assumptions Ask for a comparison at the same product, material, quantity and destination. Identify what is included in each option: artwork preparation, decoration areas, setup, proofing or other relevant work. If the scope differs, a lower displayed price may not describe the same order. Treat a design change as a reason to revisit the commercial terms. Switching a technique, adding a second placement or revising the artwork can require new confirmation of price, minimum quantity and timing. A previous quote should not be assumed to cover the edited design. ## Approve the complete design and production specification The final decision combines the product, material, artwork version, technique, placements and quantity. Review the agreed proof or sample requirements for that specific order. A realistic 3D preview supports design decisions; it does not by itself prove an exact physical color, texture or finished production result. MerchandAise confirms the quote before payment. Ask about unresolved details while the design is still being reviewed, and approve the exact version that the quote describes. If your preferred treatment is unavailable, keep the desired effect in the brief and request a supported alternative or a sourcing review. ## Questions for each decoration choice ### Print Design question: How should the artwork, color and coverage look on the selected product? Production question: Which method, material combination and artwork specification are supported? ### Embroidery Design question: How should the design read when represented in stitches? Production question: What detail, placement and proof requirements apply to this product? ### Applied marks and finishes Design question: What surface effect or texture should this detail contribute? Production question: What material, attachment or finish is available for the exact combination? ## Continue your design [Explore supported products](https://www.merchandaise.com/en-us/configurator#popular-products-to-customize) [Share your idea](https://www.merchandaise.com/en-us/contact) [How to choose materials for your product](https://www.merchandaise.com/en-us/guides/choosing-materials) [Understanding product price, MOQ and lead time](https://www.merchandaise.com/en-us/guides/price-moq-lead-time) [From a product idea and 3D design to a confirmed order](https://www.merchandaise.com/en-us/guides/design-to-order)