Each type below is one a manufacturer can turn on in the designer. The color ranges are the ones the AI is given, by the patch's longest side. A shop can set a lower maximum on every plan, and cannot set a higher one than the type can hold. A fixed list of thread or ink colors is part of the Custom plan.
Embroidered
Thread stitched into a fabric backing. The surface is raised and textured, with a merrowed border on a typical patch.
Good for: Logos, teams, uniforms, and bold lettering.
Limits: Colors: 6 to 8 under 4 inch on the longest side, 8 to 12 from 4 inch to under 5 inch, and 12 to 16 at 5 inch and larger. A finished order can include up to 20 thread colors. The designer asks for the smaller range so the stitches stay separable. Lines at least 1 mm wide. Text at least 5 mm tall. No gradients and no photo shading. Longest side up to 12.5 inch.
Woven
A loom weaves the picture from colored threads. It holds a finer line and smaller text than embroidery.
Good for: Small text, detailed crests, and labels.
Limits: At most 7 colors at every size. 7 is the loom maximum, not a paid upgrade. Lines at least 0.6 mm. Text at least 3 mm. No gradients. Longest side up to 8 inch.
Chenille
Thick looped yarn on felt, the varsity-letter texture, with a chain-stitch border.
Good for: One bold letter, or a few very large shapes.
Limits: Colors: 2 to 3 under 4 inch, 2 to 4 from 4 inch to under 5 inch, and 3 to 4 at 5 inch and larger. The process holds at most 4 colors. Lines about 10 mm. Text about 12 mm. Faces, fur, thin lines, and gradients do not work. Longest side up to 12 inch.
Printed / dye-sublimation
The picture is dye-sublimated into polyester. It is flat, not stitched thread, and it can hold a photograph.
Good for: Gradients, photos, and artwork with many colors.
Limits: Colors are not limited. Gradients and fine detail are the point. Text still has to be readable: at least 2.5 mm tall, lines at least 0.3 mm. Longest side up to 8 inch.
PVC 2D
Flat molded rubber. Waterproof, with thin raised outlines between color regions.
Good for: Outdoor, tactical, and uniform patches that need a smooth rubber face.
Limits: This type is made up to 4 inch on the longest side. Under 4 inch: 4 to 8 colors. At 4 inch: 6 to 10 colors. The product includes up to 12 colors. Soft steps between molded layers are fine. A photograph is not. Lines at least 1.2 mm. Text at least 4 mm.
PVC 3D
Molded rubber with a raised, sculpted face and a glossy sheen.
Good for: Tactical, outdoor, and uniform patches that should feel raised.
Limits: This type is made up to 4 inch on the longest side. Under 4 inch: 4 to 8 colors. At 4 inch: 6 to 10 colors. The product includes up to 12 colors. Lines at least 1.5 mm. Text at least 4.5 mm. No hairline linework and no photo shading.
Leather
Genuine leather, or PU on request. The finishes are debossed (pressed into the leather), embossed, or laser-engraved. In the designer the choices are debossed, laser-engraved, a color fill, or ink printed on the leather.
Good for: Hats, jackets, and labels where the material should read as leather rather than thread.
Limits: Colors: 2 to 4 under 4 inch, 3 to 6 from 4 inch to under 5 inch, and 4 to 6 at 5 inch and larger. The design stays within 6 colors. A color fill uses up to 3 colors. Lines at least 1.5 mm. Text at least 5 mm. No gradients and no photo shading. Longest side up to 12 inch.
UV Printed - Leatherette
A manufacturer-only type for a partner who owns a UV printer. The face is leatherette, printed in full color and cut to the outline, with no merrow border and no thread.
Good for: Shops that stock leatherette sheets and want a printed patch without an embroidery color count.
Limits: About 28 finishes. The partner can limit the list to the finishes they stock. Full-color print, so there is no thread-color limit. The partner chooses the backing options for this type.
UV Printed - TPU
A manufacturer-only type for a partner who owns a UV printer. A TPU sheet, printed in full color and cut to the outline, with no merrow border and no thread.
Good for: Flexible badges where the base color of the sheet is part of the product.
Limits: Seven base colors: White, Silver, Gold, Glittery Silver, Glittery Gold, Holographic Silver, and Holographic Gold. Full-color print, so there is no thread-color limit. The partner chooses the backing options for this type.
UV Printed - Acrylic
A manufacturer-only type for a partner who owns a UV printer. An acrylic piece, printed in full color and cut to the outline, with no merrow border and no thread.
Good for: Rigid badges and labels where the sheet color shows through or around the print.
Limits: Four sheet colors: Clear, White, Black, and Frosted. Full-color print, so there is no thread-color limit. The partner chooses the backing options for this type.
Which patch types can a manufacturer offer?
Embroidered, woven, chenille, printed (dye-sublimation), PVC 2D, PVC 3D, and leather. A shop that owns a UV printer can also offer UV Printed - Leatherette, UV Printed - TPU, and UV Printed - Acrylic. A shop turns on the ones it makes, and it chooses the backing options for each type. It can also add a type of its own that is made like one of these.
How many colors can each type use?
The designer starts from a range that depends on the type and the size. Embroidered runs from 6 colors on a small patch up to 16 on a large one, and a finished embroidered order can include 20 thread colors. Woven stops at 7, which is the loom maximum. Chenille stays within 4. PVC is prompted up to 10 and the product includes up to 12. Leather stays within 6, and a color fill uses up to 3. Printed dye-sublimation is not limited to a color count. The three UV-printed types are full-color prints with no thread-color limit. A shop can set a lower maximum on a catalog type. It cannot set a higher one than that type's technical maximum.
Can a shop limit designs to specific colors?
Yes, on the Custom plan. The shop names the thread or ink colors for a type, and the designer and the AI stay inside that list. Every other plan can set a maximum count only.
