Digitizing service
Digitize a picture for embroidery
Photo digitizing turns a picture into stitches using layered, blended colors and stitch angles that follow fur, hair and facial features. A clear, well-lit photo sewn at 4–8 inches gives the best results. Pet and photo portraits start at $45 and are delivered in any home or commercial machine format.
Best size
4"–8" (details are lost below about 3")
Colors
Typically 6–14 thread colors
Typical stitch count
15,000–40,000
Styles
Realistic color, sketch/line-art style, single-color silhouette
Price
From $45; line-art style from $35
Choosing the right photo
The photo matters more than anything else. For the best result:
- Sharp and well lit: daylight, no heavy shadows or flash glare.
- Close-up: the face should fill most of the frame. Crop out the background if you can.
- Eye level: photos taken from the pet's height look more natural in thread.
- High resolution: send the original from your phone, not a screenshot or a social media download.
Not sure your photo will work? Upload it and we'll tell you honestly before you pay anything.
Three styles
- Realistic color: blended fills and short stitches that build up fur texture and shading. It looks like a painting in thread.
- Sketch / line art: outline and a few defining features in one or two colors. Clean, modern and fast to sew, and great for tote bags and sweatshirts.
- Silhouette: a bold single-color shape. Ideal for small sizes, caps and minimal designs.
For home embroidery machines
Most pet portraits are sewn on home machines such as the Brother PE800, SE2000 or Janome MB-4. We'll size the design to your hoop (5"×7" is most common), deliver PES, JEF, VP3 or whichever format you need, and keep the stitch count reasonable for a single-needle machine. See our home embroiderer guide.
Gift timing
Ordering for a holiday or birthday? Allow 24 hours for the file plus your sewing time, or choose rush delivery at checkout.
How it works
From upload to stitch file in 4 steps
- 1
Upload
Any image (PNG, JPG, PDF, AI, even a phone photo) with the size and garment.
- 2
Fixed price
Usually within an hour in business hours. Nothing starts until you agree.
- 3
Approve preview
PDF stitch preview within 24 hours. Ask for changes if anything looks off.
- 4
Pay & sew
Download every format. Not sewing right? We fix it free.
Free quote · no obligation
Get your Photo & Pet Portrait Digitizing quote
from $45
- Hand-digitized by a USA-based digitizer
- Every machine format included
- PDF stitch preview before you pay
- Free edits until it sews right
Prefer email? Send your art to orders@digitizingdelight.com
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Still have a question? Email orders@digitizingdelight.com and a digitizer will answer, usually within an hour.
Can you embroider a picture of my dog?
Yes. Send a clear, close-up photo. We'll digitize it as a realistic color portrait, a sketch-style outline or a silhouette, whichever you prefer.
What size should a pet portrait be?
4" to 8" gives enough room for detail. The 5"×7" hoop on most home machines is ideal.
How much does photo digitizing cost?
From $45 for a realistic color portrait. Sketch-style designs start at $35. We give you a fixed price before we start.
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