Whether used personally or for branding, custom patches are highly personalizable and affordable items. You can customize its design according to your preferred style and purpose. Getting your desired design for customized badges has become effortless with the help of a professional patch maker. However, you still have to choose the right customization options for designing your pieces in the right way.
A Complete Guide: How To Design Custom Patches
Below is the step-by-step guide that will help you get down to the details and let you design your pieces just like you imagined.
Come Up With An Idea
Coming up with some sort of inspiration is one of the initial steps to consider to successfully journey through the upcoming steps. Think of the purpose behind it to finalize your idea. For instance, if you want to elevate your fashion, choose a stylish retro or fancy artwork. On the other hand, integrate the brand logo, slogan, and other important elements if you want for your branding purpose. Similarly, select the artwork according to the vision you would use primarily for.
However, as designing custom patches is a collaborative project, translate your raw or imaginary idea into a rough sketch. Otherwise, you can select an existing graphic for your reference from the internet to show to a professional designer. Either way, save it in the file in any standard format, like JPEG or PSD. Besides, brainstorming your idea with experts will let you achieve an award-winning design. So don’t hesitate to seek assistance wherever possible.
Specify Your Required Size
The size of your badge depends according to the purpose you need it for. For instance, your goal is to apply them on a jacket’s sleeve, then choose a big diameter and vibrant hue. In comparison, pick a smaller size if you plan to apply the motif to your handbag or backpack. Another factor that you should consider while deciding measurements is the complexity level of your artwork.
If it is simple, you can choose a small size whereas a large one is better if your design contains a lot of elements and complexities. You can provide your size requirements in inches, centimetres, and millimetres. The suitable size range starts from 2 and 2.5 inches, extending to 6.5 and 7 inches. For instance, the diameter of something between 3 to 5 inches is an ideal size for keychains patches. Similarly, think of the area of placement and badge used to provide your accurate measurements.
Pick Your Patch Type
The patch consists of diverse types and not each one of them may suit your design. Therefore, explore different kinds to determine the one that goes perfectly with your chosen artwork. Here are some popular ones:
Embroidered Patch: An elegant and versatile choice, best for showcasing minute details of your artwork. It also lets you retain the shape of your design, whether ironed on or sewn, to get the product just like you imagined. You can either make a single hue pop or use various shades to make a colour gradient to complete the look.
Chenille Patch: It is a perfect option for a simple design, with bold letters, solid colours, and decent patterns. Nevertheless, Chenille let your idea stand out due to its three-dimensional and fuzzy features. Plus, the woven threads stitched artwork can maintain its appearance as if new for a long time. Employees and members within many organizations use this type on their uniforms.
Leather Patch: A badge type that enhances the appeal of luxurious items, whether made from suede, snakeskin, bison, or pigskin. Customizing its colour into red, white, brown, black, and olive will help you achieve the trendiest look.
Woven Patch: You can convert your chosen high-resolution images into complex designs on the fabric. A thinner thread is used to complete each bit of the artwork, For the border, it is up to you whether you choose embroidered or leave it as it is. In this type, the logos and lettering appear bold, having a polished look. It is why they’re the favourite choice for school and varsity uniforms.
PVC Patch: Its lightweight and versatile nature makes it ideal for clothing, accessories, and collectables.
Its rubber-made body makes it resistant to wear and tear, letting you have a durable badge. Consider PVC patches if you want to take a modern and flawless approach.
Choose The Border Type
The purpose of the border is to add a finishing touch to your patch, whether it is a merrow, heat-cut, or laser-cut. Different edges have distinctive characteristics. Reflect on the look you want to create on your customized badges to make the right decision. However, having a border is not a must-have option and you can still achieve a clean, minimalistic look without it. It will work well for your modern or geometric design.
Select The Backing For Your Customized Badges
Consider your badge type and garment’s fabric, along with your feasibility in selecting the suitable backing. Iron-on option is appropriate if your apparel is resistant to heat and you want an easy application method.
However, it is not a long-lasting method. Opt for Velcro backing if you want to de-attach and adhere to different motifs in the same placement area of your garment. The adhesive backing is super easy to apply and doesn’t require any other instrument for application, but its durability is a concern. Nonetheless, choose no backing if you’re going for a durable sew-on application method.
Determine Your Color Scheme
Consider a smart colour scheme so that the patterns and text are visible even from a distance. Complementary hues will make your embroidery appear more vibrant. The popular contrasting schemes are black and white, white and red, red and green, orange and yellow, and lastly, violet and yellow.
Don’t limit yourself to these two shades of colour combinations, as you can choose more hues to create a vibrant pattern. However, your badge’s colours will come out beautifully if you choose apparel thoughtfully for its application. For instance, the bright-coloured motif will look appealing on the neutral-toned garment.
Order Your Custom Patches
Once you have figured out every aspect of your badge’s design, the next step is to place your order. Assess different patch suppliers based on their offerings, perks, delivery timeline, affordability, authenticity, professionalism, and reliability. Once you have selected your manufacturer, place your order by filling out the quote or sending a direct message. They will soon share a picture of your sample and will ask for your approval.
You can request as many revisions as required to feel fully satisfied with the sample and their professionals will cater it for you. Once you approve the sample, it will take about two weeks for them to deliver the final product to your doorstep. Then, you can use those inch-perfect customized badges to achieve your personal or branding objective.
Summing It All Up
That’s a wrap on this handy step-by-step guide! We have explained all the processes you should consider for designing your custom patches. Use the above content to choose your option for personalizing your badges according to your desire and goal. Make sure you hire a professional and trustworthy supplier that delivers you an affordable, high-quality product with an eye-catching design.