Two-color logo rule: marks that survive fax and embroidery
Master the two-color logo rule to survive fax and embroidery with cheap print tips.
Why 1 to 2 colors win
Two colors cut print costs by 45 percent across 5000 units and survive faxes well. Nike and FedEx use dark plus accent so marks stitch cleanly at 2 inches and stay vivid for 8 years.
Black plus red covers 80 percent of needs with power and punch for food, retail and sport. When making your logo online, start with black only, add one accent near 20 percent area, and export single-color, reversed and full versions together.
Applying the rule daily
Limit palettes to HEX codes with contrast above 5 to 1 for text. Test embroidery with 2 thread colors at 3 dollars per 1000 stitches, check foil with 1 shade, and proof boxes and apps over 14 days.
Avoid 4 color gradients because stitching fees rise 60 percent and small text blurs below 18 pixels. Keep icons solid, save Pantone numbers for 2 inks, and ask printers 5 questions about stock, coating and minimum runs before ordering.
- Start with black only version
- Add one accent at 20 percent
- Test fax after 4 copies
- Stitch test at 2 inches
- Save reversed white files