What a stitch preview is
A stitch preview is a rendering generated from the digitized file. It shows every stitch the machine will make: fill areas, satin columns, outlines, the order in which colors sew, and the total stitch count. It is usually delivered as a PDF or image alongside the thread color list.
What it shows accurately
- Overall shape, proportions and finished size
- Which details were simplified, thickened or removed to sew cleanly
- Stitch direction and how areas are filled
- Color sequence and the number of thread changes
- Stitch count, which drives production time and, for products, part of the price
What it cannot show
A rendering is not fabric. It cannot show how a knit stretches, how a fleece pile swallows thin lines, how buckram in a cap resists the needle, or how the exact thread shade looks against your garment color. Slight differences in coverage and edge crispness between preview and sew-out are normal.
If the fabric is unusual or the run is large, ask for a physical sew-out photo before bulk production. We will tell you if we think one is needed.
Approval checklist
- Spelling and wording, including capitalization
- Finished size in the unit you specified
- Thread colors against your references
- Placement and orientation on the garment or cap
- Any simplified detail you are happy to accept
- The file format named for your machine
Changes and re-approval
Ask for changes before approving. Adjustments within the same artwork, size and placement are part of the job. Once you approve, that exact version goes to production; a later change requires a revised proof and a fresh approval, and may change the production date.