Protecting against unsuitable image uploads

Protecting against unsuitable image uploads

Auto-digitizing (automatic digitizing) converts artwork into embroidery files. The Embroidery Web API uses AI to reduce colors, define objects, and choose stitch types and directions, similar to what a human digitizer would do.

⚠️ Not all images are suitable for embroidery. Large, low-quality, overly complex, or photo-like images can:
  1. Fail to convert properly.
  2. Waste server resources and API credits.
  3. Frustrate customers, leading them to abandon orders.
It’s essential to prevent unsuitable images from being uploaded in the first place.

What types of images work best?

Consideration
Details
Logos/Emblems
Over 90% of commercial embroidery orders are simple logo-style designs with flat colors and clear outlines.
Color limits
Good embroidery designs use no more than 5–6 colors. Too many colors = poor readability + higher production cost.
Object size
Very small details do not stitch well. The system removes tiny shapes as 'noise'.
Resolution
Uploads should be around 300 DPI. Low-res images (72/96 DPI) often lack enough detail for the AI to recognize boundaries.
Photographs
Not suitable for Wilcom EWA – requires special techniques not supported by this service.

How to filter unsuitable images

Consideration
Details
Educate users
Provide clear instructions on your website about acceptable image types.
Apply simple filters
Check resolution, size, and color count before accepting uploads.
Show error messages
Reject unsuitable uploads with clear guidance on what’s required.

Using third-party tools

Azure cognitive services:

  1. Can be trained to distinguish 'acceptable' vs 'unacceptable' images.
  2. After training, it can filter uploads with over 90% accuracy.
  3. Although it’s a paid service, costs are low compared to wasted API processing.

Info
This same Azure AI is already used inside Wilcom’s auto-digitizing process.

Color reduction tools:

  1. Reduce the number of colors in images before auto-digitizing.
  2. Help keep designs efficient and production costs low.
  3. Can be integrated directly into your website.

Key points

For a smooth customer experience and efficient API usage:
  1. Accept only clean, logo-style images.
  2. Enforce rules with upload filters.
  3. Consider AI-based tools like Azure for smarter automation.
  4. Use color-reduction to simplify images and lower production costs.

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