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Digitizing 101
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 At www.fastembtapes.com, we have created a platform in which the entire embroidery process is systematized and made as simple and as streamlined as possible for our users.  Our customers can receive artwork assistance for their design or logo and submit, process and send tapes to their embroiderer along with comprehensive instructions in a cost-effective, speedy, efficient manner. 

In addition to a comprehensive digitizing platform, we offer a forum in which customers, embroiderers and providers can connect and do business with each other.  In a click, real-time information is available about embroidery services and products, which will assist our customers in making informed decisions and choices.

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There is no charge to open an account on the Fast Embroidery Tapes website and access all of the available services.  All you pay for is the actual digitizing, and estimates that exceed the number of complimentary estimates we offer to our customers.  We offer three free estimates to new account holders and offer a free estimate for every tape order completed.  The number of estimates available is automatically adjusted as you submit orders.

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Most of our customers only need to submit one or two art files, but you have the ability to submit as many as eight files at the time you complete the Submit Order form.  You can upload one file on the Submit Order form at the line entitled, Artwork. Simply click on Browse and selecting the file saved on your computer.  If you have more files to submit, select I have more supporting files next to the Browse button.  Once you have completed the page and clicked Continue, you will be taken to a second page where you can then upload additional files as well as give a brief description for each.

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You are given three choices for stitch density.

Plush has the greatest stitch density.

Standard, is less dense.

Economy is the least dense of the three. 

You might choose Economy when you are running a large job and want to reduce the number of potential stitches.  If you want a rich, full sewout, Plush would assure you of a seamless appearance and satiny finish. Your choice will vary depending on what type of job you are running and your customer’s requests and expectations.  Selecting one of those levels, gives us an idea of how to digitize that tape to best suit your needs for each order.

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We have a very sophisticated, web-based program that will notify you by email as well as prompt you on your Activity Overview page, if we need to contact you about one of your orders.  An icon will appear under the Notices column on the Activity Overview page in the row of the order that needs attention. If that icon appears, it means you have a message waiting to be viewed.  Click on the icon, and you will be taken to the question that has been posted. You will be able to answer there, directly from your own message board, and your message will be viewed immediately by our Customer Service Department.  We can also call you if you feel that is the best way for us to contact you.

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To change your credit card information, go to the payment account in the Activity Overview page and click on Payment Accounts in the right menu bar.  You will be able to change your credit card information there.

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When your order is complete, you are sent an email notifying you that your order is ready for approval.  Click on the link in the email to return to the site and view a sewout of your finished tape. The digitized tape is in your account on our Website.  The image you are shown is a scan of an actual sewout of your embroidery tape and will be viewable on the tape retrieval page. Accept the order at that time, and the operating files immediately become available to download or send to your embroidery. Your digitized file is displayed for you on our Embroidery Design Simulator and you have a number of options at that time. 

The Embroidery Design Simulator gives you an opportunity to change thread needle colors and create several versions of your logo or design that can be applied to different colored garments or items.  Once you have completed that process, you can send the saved versions on to an embroiderer, with our without an optional Purchase Order form.  The Purchase Order Form is for your convenience to send information about the products to be sewn (amounts, sizes, etc.) and related instructions on to the embroiderer.  Along with a comments field, you will be able to specify from whom they will receive items and where the finished items are to be delivered.

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The Embroidery Design Simulator displays your digitized files once they have been completed. 

With the Simulator you can change the background color to correspond with your fabric color.  Pantone color values are available for you to designate the color of your choice.  

The Simulator then gives you an opportunity to change and view a variety of thread colors used to sew out your design or logo.  You can select thread colors by a pantone color value. That value will be matched to the closest Robison-Anton thread color. To view the entire spectrum of colors available, click on the green arrow next to the number of the needle you want to change. A chart of colors becomes visible in a popup window where you can make your selection.  If you have not already received one, as a new account holder with Fast Embroidery Tapes, you should soon be receiving a Robison-Anton thread chart, which will help you coordinate the colors you select with actual in-hand samples. A navigation number is provided on the color chart to enable you to quickly find the coordinating color on the Robison-Anton chart.   

You can save many variation of your design by simply clicking on Save Version for each variation and naming and saving it.  You may choose to do this if you have a number of different colored garments that your design will be sewn on—You will be able to keep track of what color combinations you would like to run on which garments.  The saved versions are held with your design and can be retrieved at any time in the future. 

The Design Simulator also has a link to the details of your order if you want to view your original instructions and any correspondence you have had with us. Click on view order details, located above the design window to return to the Order Detail page.

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You can elect to send your tape to your embroiderer in a few different ways. 

Once your order is complete, you will be able to use the Embroidery Simulator to designate thread colors and save different versions of that design.  The version that appears in the viewer is the one that will be loaded and sent to your embroiderer when you choose a favorite embroiderer or local embroiderer (quality embroiderers listed in our Gold Hoop Network).  Once you identify the embroiderer to whom the tape is to be sent, you can elect to either send the tape with or without an accompanying purchase order.  The purchase order gives you an opportunity to enter your own number and include information as to where the garments to be sewn are being sent from and where finished items should be shipped.  It also includes a place to enter the types of garments, number of garments and thread designations selected from the Simulator. 

You will be able to select the files the embroiderer will receive—the embroidery file, the sewout and a simulated version if you wish. Once you have completed the Purchase Order, you will be given an opportunity to verify the information before the email is sent to your embroiderer. 

If you choose to send the files without any accompanying instructions, you can send the files with basic information and include the digitized file, the scan of a sewout and a simulated versions with thread selections as well. 

You also are given the choice to save the files to your computer. Simply right click on the file name and save it in your own directory.

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The Fast Embroidery Tapes’ archiving feature is a very important feature that allows you to organize all of your tapes and files and later search and retrieve them when you need them. 

Once orders are completed and transferred to your archived files, you can search for any previously completed tape by order number, design name or date of completion.  Once you locate your tape, if you would like to re-do or edit it in some way, you can instantly convert it to a new order by clicking on the Convert button. The Convert button pulls up an order entry page that is partially filled in with information from the original order (information which will need to remain the same if the order is to qualify as an edit).  Complete the form with your requested changes, and submit your order for digitizing.  It’s that easy.

You will experience a savings of time and money by being able to edit files in this way when they do not require substantial changes from the original design.  An example would be a design done for a national organization that has several different divisions throughout the country.  If they decide that would like to make a simple textual change on that design (such as state name) for each of its divisions, their tape can be re-submitted as an edit for each of those affiliated divisions at a substantial savings.

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Each new account holder is given three free estimates when they sign up for an account. As our customers begin placing orders, they receive a credit of one free estimate for each order submitted.  If estimates requested exceed the number we provide without charge there is a minimum $5 per estimate charge to cover our administrative expenses involved. 

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You will be notified of the number of prepaid estimates available to you at the time you submit a new estimate request.  As a new customer, you receive three free estimates and one for every order placed, so the number of available estimates will vary with time.  If the number available drops to 0, you will need to purchase additional estimates before a new request can be processed.  You can purchase prepaid estimates in packs of 5 for $25, up to 15 for $75.  They will be charged in whatever way you request and immediately be reflected on your Estimate Request form.

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Estimates are retained in your open estimates table on your Activity Overview page for 30 days to give you a chance to review them and convert them to orders in a simple fashion when you are ready.  (Simply click on the Convert button in the row that contains the estimate you want to submit as an order.) An order entry page will open with some of the important information already completed.  Complete the form and click, Submit.  Your new order will be delivered to our Digitizing Department for processing.

Estimates that are over 30 days old that have not been converted to orders, are sent to an Estimate Archive file.  Search for them by name, date or number, and you can convert them to an order using the Convert button.

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We have a link located next to the Simulator entitled Thread Type Info, which will take you to Embroidery 101 that offers basic information on the qualities and advantages of different types of thread.  The most common thread used, combining quality and resilience with visual appeal is rayon.  Polyester is a heavier thread—a good choice for items that will be submitted to rough use or high-intensity, chlorine bleach washing, such as sportswear or uniforms. We’ve chosen Robison-Anton as our default thread selection because it is a well established company that stands behind its product.  Robison-Anton is the largest manufacturer of both polyester and rayon thread in the United States and produces a high quality product that will provide reliable results you can count on.  

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Graphic art services are available to you through our Graphic Art Department to help support you in a variety of ways for your own business or in working with your customer.  Our artists create logos, create brochures, edit artwork for embroidery tapes and develop websites.  Our company employs graphic artists and other talents throughout the country who have exhibited exceptional capabilities in their specific field and can serve your needs in a timely fashion. They will work with you to develop an idea from scratch or edit a design to meet your current needs and will provide an estimate of time and cost before beginning any work.

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The User Manager function located on the side menu bar of the logged-in pages is available to the primary user within a company to add users under the same company account number and billing structure.  With the User Manager, the Master Account Holder can add and subtract users simply by following the instructions after clicking the User Manager link. Once a new user has been added, he/she will receive an email with instructions as to how to log onto the site and begin using the services.  The new user will be issued a password that can be changed easily from the Activity Overview page simply by accessing their User Manager panel.

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