Questions, answered.

PatchForge is a browser-based design studio for custom hat patches — UV printed or laser engraved on leather, leatherette, vinyl, and acrylic. You design the patch, preview it on real hat mockups, build gang sheets, send client proofs, and export production-ready files. There is nothing to install; it all runs in your web browser.

No. PatchForge runs entirely in your web browser on any modern computer. Background removal and file export also happen in the browser, so your artwork never has to leave your machine.

Click "Start free trial" on the homepage. You can sign in with Google or create an account with your name, email, and a password of at least 8 characters. Email sign-ups receive a confirmation link — click it before your first login.

Every new design starts by asking how the patch is made — UV Printed or Engraved. That choice sets how your artwork renders, which materials apply, and what the export contains; you can change it any time from the big toggle in the toolbar, and it is saved with the design. From there the left panel walks you top to bottom: ① Design (the process, in context), ② Add Artwork (upload and clean up your image, or trace it for engraving), ③ Add Text & Shapes (add lettering and elements), ④ Shape & Cut (pick a shape or custom die-cut contour, set the size and cut margin), and ⑤ Material & Finish (choose the material, edge finish, and effects). Layers live in a panel on the right to reorder, lock, or hide. Then use the toolbar to price it with the $ chip, preview it on a hat, and export.

Open the account menu (top-right). You will find the Quick Start Guides (step-by-step walkthroughs you can read online or download as PDFs), this FAQ, and the in-app Help Center with a searchable index and keyboard shortcuts.

Click "Design" in the top navigation to open the Patch Builder. Work down the numbered panel on the left: Process, Artwork, Material & shape, Text & shapes, and Layers. The canvas in the middle shows a live preview with the cut line; the toolbar across the top handles saving, pricing, and export.

Press Ctrl+S (⌘S on Mac) or click Save in the toolbar. Auto-save also runs after about 30 seconds of inactivity. Saved designs appear under "My Designs," where you can reopen, rename, duplicate, pin to the top, and add production notes.

Yes. Use "Save as variant" in the toolbar to keep a related version (for example a different colorway) grouped as a family with the original. Variant families show together in your library and can be sent to a client as one proof bundle.

Ctrl+Z undoes the last action and Ctrl+Shift+Z (or Ctrl+Y) redoes it. The builder keeps up to 50 undo steps. History clears when you close the tab.

Over 20 shapes — rectangle, rounded square, circle, oval, capsule, hexagon, pentagon, shield, badge, banner, crest, star, heart, and more — plus Custom Contour, which auto-traces the exact outline of your artwork for a die-cut patch. You can also set the border style: merrowed, hot-cut, laser, or none.

In the Text & shapes section, use the Arc Text controls: type your text, set the arc radius, choose the flip direction, and add it. You can adjust the radius after it is placed. Straight text, shapes, and lines are available in the same section.

Common ones: Ctrl+S save, Ctrl+N new design, Ctrl+Z undo, Ctrl+Shift+Z redo, Ctrl+D duplicate, Delete to remove the selected object, Escape to deselect. Press "?" anywhere outside a text field to open the command palette. Type G then a letter to jump around (for example G then P for the Patch Builder).

PNG, JPG, and SVG, up to 20 MB. SVG (vector) gives the crispest result and is best for engraving. PNG is best for full-color UV printing — use a transparent background when possible. JPG works for photos but has no transparency.

For UV printing, aim for 300 DPI or higher at the size you will print. Low-resolution images look pixelated when enlarged. For engraving, vector artwork (SVG) is ideal because it stays sharp at any size.

In the Artwork section, click "Remove Background." It runs entirely in your browser and knocks out a white or busy background so only your subject remains — ideal for placing a logo cleanly on a patch.

Use "Vectorize for Engraving" in the Artwork section. It converts a raster image (PNG/JPG) into a clean black-and-white engrave vector, with a live threshold slider so you can dial in how much detail to keep. High-contrast art vectorizes best.

Raster art (PNG/JPG) is made of pixels — great for full-color UV prints and photos. Vector art (SVG) is made of paths that stay crisp at any size — best for engraving and clean line work. For a laser job, vectorize first if your source is a photo.

PatchForge draws the cut line automatically from the shape you choose in Material & shape. Pick Custom Contour to trace the exact outline of your artwork for a die-cut patch, and use the spacing control to add a margin between the art and the edge. Toggle "Show cut line" to check it without the artwork in the way.

UV Printed is full-color ink printed onto the material — your artwork keeps its original colors, so it is best for colorful logos and photos. Engraved means a laser removes or darkens the surface, so your artwork takes on the material's engrave color (black, gold, silver, and so on); the preview recolors your art to that exact tone so you see what the laser will really produce. You pick one when you start a new design, and you can switch any time using the large UV Printed / Engraved toggle in the toolbar. It drives which materials, effects, and export files are available, and it is saved with the design — reopen an engraved patch and it is still engraved.

Some materials only do one of the two. Tri-layer acrylic is engrave-only (the laser reveals the bonded colors beneath), while plastic and fabric are print-only. In the material picker those groups are labelled "UV only" or "Engrave only", and the toolbar toggle disables the option a material cannot produce. If you pick a material that only supports the other process, we switch the patch over and tell you — nothing changes silently.

Leather and leatherette in the full catalog of colorways (each with its true engrave color), vinyl for full-color print/cut work, and dual- and tri-layer acrylics that engrave to reveal their bonded layer colors. Open "Materials" from the account menu to browse the whole catalog with per-square-inch pricing.

Each leather and leatherette has a real engrave color — the tone that shows when the laser burns that specific material. Names read as base/engrave; for example "Rawhide/Black" is a rawhide-colored surface that engraves to black. When you select a leather and switch to laser, the preview recolors your art to that engrave color so the mockup matches production.

Layered acrylic is a solid top color bonded over one color (dual-layer) or two colors (tri-layer) beneath it. Engraving cuts through the top to reveal a lower color, so one sheet produces two or three colors with no ink. The top layer is the bare, unengraved surface — negative space. By default every piece of your artwork engraves to the FIRST engrave layer (the second color), so a normal black cutout arrives ready to engrave with nothing sent to the surface. On a tri-layer you can then send individual pieces DEEPER to the third color for a second, deeper engrave: select a piece (Ungroup a grouped SVG first) and use the Top / Mid / Deep swatches in the selection toolbar or the Layers panel — Top returns a piece to the bare surface, Mid is the first engrave layer, Deep is the bottom layer. Layer order is top → mid → deep; if a sheet you own is stacked differently, contact support and we will correct that material.

Yes. Turn on "Simulate embroidery stitch texture" in the toolbar to preview the woven, stitched finish of an embroidered patch.

The Layers panel (step ⑤ in the Patch Builder) lists every object in your design, stacked in order. Drag to reorder them, click the eye icon to hide or show an object, and click the lock icon to freeze an object so you do not move it by accident.

Click an object on the canvas (or its row in the Layers panel) to select it, then adjust its color, size, position, and rotation in the properties panel. Double-click text to edit the words. Use Ctrl+D to duplicate and Delete to remove the selected object.

Every piece defaults to the first engrave layer (the second color) — nothing is placed on the bare top surface automatically. To change a piece: select it (Ungroup a grouped SVG first so you can pick individual paths), then use the Top / Mid / Deep swatches in the selection toolbar or the Layers panel. Top returns the piece to the bare top surface (negative space, no engrave); Mid is the first engrave layer; Deep is the bottom layer (the second, deeper engrave). Your choice sticks — the automatic default will not override a piece you have assigned.

Click "Hat Mockup" in the top nav, or click "Preview on hat" in the Patch Builder toolbar to carry your current design straight over. Choose a hat, a color/variant, and a view, then position and size the patch on it. Switch colors and views to see the design across the whole product line.

In the Hat Builder, click "Share / Send to Client" to mint a unique proof link (like /p/ab12cd). Your customer opens it in any browser without logging in and clicks Approve or Request Changes, with a comment box for notes. To show several colorways at once, add each mockup to the proof bundle tray and send them all under one link.

Open "Proofs" from the account menu. Each proof shows its status — pending, approved, or changes requested — along with the customer's comment, the date sent, and a Copy link button.

On the Proofs page, "Send revision" pushes a new version to the same link (the customer keeps the original URL), and "Revise bundle" loads the whole set back into the Hat Builder so you can rework it and resend.

A gang sheet packs multiple designs onto one large print sheet to maximize material use and lower the cost per piece. It is standard practice for DTF, sticker, and UV-DTF production runs.

Click "Gang Sheet" in the top nav. Add designs from My Designs or upload new files in the Patches tab, then set the sheet size, gap spacing, margins, and background in Sheet Settings. PatchForge auto-packs the designs to use the least material every time you add, remove, or resize an item.

Presets include 22×24", 22×36", 22×60", and 22×96", plus custom dimensions. Set the DPI to 150 for a quick preview or 300 for production. The right panel shows live pricing for the current sheet size.

Click "Export Production Package" to download the full-resolution sheet, ready to send to your printer.

High-resolution PNG (up to 600 DPI, with a transparent option), true vector SVG, and a full Production Package ZIP. Engrave designs — laser leather/vinyl and dual/tri-layer acrylics — additionally export native LightBurn (.lbrn2) and xTool (.xs) project files, a vector engrave layer, a combined engrave+cut SVG with the cut line in red, and a DXF cut file. On tri-layer acrylics the two engrave depths export as separate machine layers (black = first depth, blue = deep) so you can set a different power/speed for each.

In the Patch Builder toolbar, click "Export ▾" and choose "Export Production Package." The dialog shows a simple checklist of file groups (machine-ready files, engrave layer, cut line, mockup preview) preselected with smart defaults for your design — just name it and click Export ZIP. Exact formats, color mode, DPI, and the LightBurn machine type live under "Advanced options."

Yes, if you run the optional local bridge, PatchForge can hand files directly to LightBurn or xTool Creative Space. Otherwise the files download to your computer, ready to import. Check the Print Specs page (account menu) for bleed, safe area, and resolution guidance before a big run.

Patch pricing is based on the design area (width × height in inches) at the per-square-inch rate for your material and quantity tier, plus any base fee. The live $ chip in the Patch Builder toolbar updates as you design, and the Price Calculator (account menu) gives a standalone estimate.

Yes — pricing is tiered, so higher quantities unlock a lower per-piece rate. The calculator and the live price chip reflect the tier for the quantity you enter.

New accounts start with a 7-day free trial on the monthly or yearly plan, with full access — design, save, and export the entire time. You are only charged when the trial ends, and you can cancel anytime before then at no cost. The trial applies to subscriptions only: Lifetime is a one-time purchase, charged in full at checkout, not a trial.

Monthly, yearly (a discount versus monthly), and lifetime (pay once). Checkout is handled securely by Stripe, and you can switch monthly ↔ yearly later from the billing portal. Monthly and yearly include the free trial; lifetime is charged today, never renews, and is final and non-refundable.

No. Lifetime is a one-time purchase and is final and non-refundable — it is not a trial and it does not renew. That is exactly why the free trial exists: take the 7-day trial first, use the full builder at no cost, and buy Lifetime during or after it at the same price. If a technical fault we cannot fix stops you using what you paid for, email us and we will make it right.

Open "Billing" from the account menu to reach the secure Stripe customer portal, where you can update your card, switch plans, download invoices, or cancel.

If a charge fails, access pauses right away and PatchForge sends you to a recovery screen to update your card — your subscription and all your designs stay exactly as they were. The moment the payment goes through, access turns back on automatically. There is no separate grace period to track; one card update restores everything, and because the subscription is never cancelled you keep your plan tenure and trial history.

Yes. Cancel from the billing portal (Billing in the account menu) whenever you like. During a free trial, cancelling before it ends means you are never charged.

Yes. You can order finished patches — custom engraved or UV printed, with bulk pricing — through Maker Foundry at makerfoundryco.com. Design and preview your patch in PatchForge, then order the real thing. Prefer to produce them yourself? PatchForge also exports production-ready files for your own printer or laser.

Shop blank hats, leather, and patch supplies at makerfoundryco.com (Maker Foundry) — the same place you can order finished patches. The materials in PatchForge mirror what you can buy there, so your on-screen preview matches what you produce.

Yes — PatchForge is part of the Maker Foundry toolkit: - **ToneSmith** (tonesmith.makerfoundryco.com) — Turn any artwork into clean, press-ready halftone color separations for DTF and DTG printing — no Photoshop required. - **Laser Settings** (settings.makerfoundryco.com) — A searchable library of dialed-in laser cut and engrave settings — find the right power, speed, and passes for your material and machine. - **TumblerForge** (tumblerforge.makerfoundryco.com) — Design and preview custom tumbler and drinkware wraps in true 3D on real cup templates, then export laser-ready files and product mockups. Plus the Maker Foundry store for blank hats and patch materials: makerfoundryco.com.

Turn any artwork into clean, press-ready halftone color separations for DTF and DTG printing — no Photoshop required. Find it at tonesmith.makerfoundryco.com.

A searchable library of dialed-in laser cut and engrave settings — find the right power, speed, and passes for your material and machine. Find it at settings.makerfoundryco.com.

Design and preview custom tumbler and drinkware wraps in true 3D on real cup templates, then export laser-ready files and product mockups. Find it at tumblerforge.makerfoundryco.com.

Make sure you are signed in and online, then press Ctrl+S again. Designs also auto-save after about 30 seconds. If you still do not see it under My Designs, refresh the page and check again before redoing work.

The source image is likely low resolution. For UV printing use art that is 300 DPI or higher at the print size, or use a vector (SVG). For engraving, use "Vectorize for Engraving" to convert it to clean lines.

Email patchforge@makerfoundryco.com and we will get back to you within one business day. Include your account email and a screenshot if you can — it helps us help you faster.