Ann The Gran Community

Please excuse my ignorance, but I am new to the embroidery addiction!  I have a new Janome 350e.  I didn't know I had to have separate software when I bought it and the store didn't tell me!  [:'(]  I thought I could just copy & paste a picture to the USB drive.  Anyway, I do have monogram wizard plus, but that is all.  I am totally new to this and have some very specific questions:

1.  If I choose designs from the ATG site, do I still need extra software or can I just DL the designs and paste them into the USB drive?

2.  I have windows Vista.  Is that a problem?

3.  If I find an image that I want to embroider, is there a practical/inexpensive way to convert it to a file I can use?  Or is there a service that does this for a fee?

4.  Can anyone recommend a reasonable & user-friendly software for this that will work with my machine?  The store sold me the machine for $1300.00 and didn't tell me that the "good software" for the machine would be that much as well!

I would be VERY grateful for any information anyone could share with me! 

Gwen Bentley

TurtlesRGwen@aol.com

Hello, Gwen.

Welcome to Machine Embroidery (ME) and especially to Ann The Gran (ATG).

No apologies needed - we all had our first day and the same experiences with sewing machine dealers who know little to nothing about machine embroidery and software.

 1.  Determine the format used by your embroidery machine (EM) and the maximum size hoop.   This is what you will go by when selecting designs for the EM.  The design can be smaller, but not larger than the hooped area.

 2.  On your hard drive, create a folder and name it ATG downloads or Embroidery...whatever you wish.  This is where you will save to when you download designs. 

 3.  If you go to DOWNLOAD DESIGNS (top right banner on any ATG screen), there will be a link for free Pulse Ambassador software.  This software allows you to view your design as well as save (convert) it to the design format required for your EM. Download this software to your hard drive. We will get back to PA later.

 4.  In DOWNLOAD DESIGNS you can download any design that has the download icon ( ) without being a paid member of Ann's Club.  Save your choices to your re-designated folder.

 5.  Most downloads will be zipped and you need to highlight and then select  extract all.

 6.  Designs in DOWNLOAD DESIGNS are in the .pes format and unless this format is accepted by your EM, you will have to convert them (after downloading and saving to the folder you created earlier) to the format you need.

To do this, open Pulse Ambassador, then open the design and save as (your choice of title) and format.

 7.  If you want to be able to view more than one design at a time, you can purchase catalog software, such as Catalog Xpress (which can also convert formats)  - http://www.annthegran.com/Product.aspx?t=1&i=2567

 8.  When you purchase designs you have a choice of formats.  Also, there are some other sites that offer free downloads with the option of choosing your format.  No conversion will be needed.

 9.  Once you are all set to use the designs, insert the USB stick into the PC, go to the folder, highlight and send your selection to the USB Stick, usually identified as removable drive.  This will be a copy.  The original will remain on the hard drive.

10.  You may want to use another UBS stick for a backup.  Copy the folder from the hard drive to the back-up stick, updating each time you make a change to the folder on the hard drive.  If the PC gets sick, you will not loose your folder and designs.

11.  There are many software programs for editing and digitizing (creating your own designs), but the catalog may be all you will need....at least until you become more familiar and comfortable with ME.

If a software program can save or open in the format you need, then you can use it for your EM.  That would be about 100% of the products on the market.

12.  As for the PC operating system - I started with XP, but have been using Vista for over a year without any issues.

Best wishes,

Pattiann 

PS - As this is an open forum, in an effort to eliminate spam, it is best to not post your email address.

ATG Members - If I forgot something or there is an easier way...anyone...please respond.   Thanks.

Hi Gwen,

Also let me welcome you to our site.

You don't have to buy any of the Janome software unless you really want it.  I have a Janome 10001 and I use the Magic Box.  I don't like a USB and the box comes with a card that just goes in the machine.  The only program that I have that is from Janome it their Customizer and I havn't used that in over a year.

Check into ATG's Catalog Express, it is the best software on the market for storing designs and transferring them. You can download a trial right from here.  The neatest thing is you can convert ANY design file to the format that your machine uses.  I believe you use Jef, and when you get designs try and download them in this format.

If you need more help just ask.

Marge

This is all good information, and I second each one of the ideas!

Relax and enjoy learning about your new craft.  Getting a design from your computer to your EM through your USB drive is the easiest and least expensive.  And, you don't need other software until you are more knowledgeable.  Other softwares allow you to modify designs (my favorite for that is Compositions), change colors, resize and change formats (CatalogXpress is my favorite for that).  There even is software for "How Much to Charge" when you want to sell your items.

Read, especially here at ATG, the forum information that is of interest to you.  You can actually 'mark' a forum so you can refer to it later.  At the top, right corner of your own post, you will see an icon "Favorites."  Select that and mark it for viewing later.  To see it later, go to your account and you will find your favorites. 

IMHO, ATG is the best and most organized information on the Web.  Blogs are so helpful, and I am proud of mine (about to turn one year old in a few days) which has photos as well as projects and information. 

Pat, The Avid Embroiderer 

Hi, Marge (My Mom was a Marge, short for Marjorie!) and Pat!

    I appreciate the information.  I have DLoaded the CatExpress.  I also bought a bunch of designs online, downloaded & unzipped them, and sent them over to my embroidery design folder.  I can see the pix of the designs in CatExpress, but when I double-click a picture to try to open it, I get a gray, error window that says, "Windows Cannot open this file..."

     I would really like to give this software a good try while I have the free trial period, but I am kind of stuck.  I would be very grateful for some help!
Thanks!
Gwen AKA The Turtle Lady!

Hi Gwen

Glad you are going to try CatX, I don't understand about opening it.  When you click a design it shows up in the lefthand corner and that is as far as it will open.  You have to use other software to put it to your machine.  Someone here said that you can take them direct to the machine but that doesn't work for me.  That is why I use a Magic Box to transfer designs.  I use CatX to see what the designs look like.  I have over 3000 designs on it and if I didn't have the program there would be no way I would know what I have.

Maybe someone else can help you for the error that uses Vlsta, many of the programs I use would not work with it.

Marge

I tried to find Magic Box on the ATG site, but it didn't come up in the search.  Any links?

thanks!

Shop Ann The Grand and you will find the Amazing Box, which is similar and The Ultimate Box.  Both will do the same functions.

Here is the link - http://www.annthegran.com/Shop.aspx?ssp=/0/0/1/5

Maybe I don't understand.  I found a link to Ultimate Box, etc.  Are they just storage devices like my Janome USB drive?  If so, do I need them or can I just send the designs to my USB and then take them to the machine.  Maybe I am misunderstanding, thinking I should be able to "open" them on my computer from Catalog Express. 

I am sorry I am so very green at all this!  I could blame it on being the (green) turtle lady, but in truth, I am just slow!  ;o)

Gwen

GwenBentley:

Hi, Marge (My Mom was a Marge, short for Marjorie!) and Pat!

    I appreciate the information.  I have DLoaded the CatExpress.  I also bought a bunch of designs online, downloaded & unzipped them, and sent them over to my embroidery design folder.  I can see the pix of the designs in CatExpress, but when I double-click a picture to try to open it, I get a gray, error window that says, "Windows Cannot open this file..."

     I would really like to give this software a good try while I have the free trial period, but I am kind of stuck.  I would be very grateful for some help!
Thanks!
Gwen AKA The Turtle Lady!

 

 Hi, Gwen.

I just downloaded a trial of CatX so I could see how it functions.  So far, I prefer Designer's Gallery/Studio Plus, but will continue to work through the learning process of CatX until I fully grasp it.

The error message you received would indicate you are using the operating system (Vista or XP) and not CatX.  

Operating systems do not recognize machine embroidery formats and you will get a error message  - cannot read/open.

When you want to convert or save to a folder,  click on a design in CatX, you should have the option to save as (see left end of menu bar) and this is when you can send it to the folder or to the USB drive.

 Pattiann

Patti Ann is right  Put in Amazing box and it will come up.  If you order it make SURE you order the correct card for your maching.  It will ask what format you want it and I believe yours is JEF so order that.  If you make a mistake and don't get the right one it will not only not work but will burn the box up.

Marge

GwenBentley:

Maybe I don't understand.  I found a link to Ultimate Box, etc.  Are they just storage devices like my Janome USB drive?  If so, do I need them or can I just send the designs to my USB and then take them to the machine.  Maybe I am misunderstanding, thinking I should be able to "open" them on my computer from Catalog Express. 

 

I am sorry I am so very green at all this!  I could blame it on being the (green) turtle lady, but in truth, I am just slow!  ;o)

Gwen

I believe we got you off on the wrong track by even mentioning something that you do not and may not ever need.........the "boxes" are reader/writer/conversion boxes. 

They do not store. 

Their software allows you to select, convert (if necessary) and send designs to a card that is then inserted into the embroidery machine. 

The box is needed ONLY if the embroidery machine has no other option to receive designs from outside the machine.

Newer, more expensive machines have more options, including the USB Flash Drive/Stick for sending designs to the embroidery machine.  The USB Flash Drive also stores the designs.

To open a design you need a program for machine embroidery.  PC operating systems do not recognize machine embroidery formats.  Programs that will open designs for viewing are like CatX... you open and view within the software and not from the software. 

You need not purchase anything at this time.  You can download and send designs to the USB.

If the downloads are not in the format needed, you can download Pulse Ambassador (free).  Open individual designs, view, change as provided by the software program and save in the format you need.

If you try to open (on the machine) a design that is larger than what your machine can handle, the machine will not open or recognize the design even if it is in the correct format.

Pattiann

marsuz:

Patti Ann is right  Put in Amazing box and it will come up.  If you order it make SURE you order the correct card for your maching.  It will ask what format you want it and I believe yours is JEF so order that.  If you make a mistake and don't get the right one it will not only not work but will burn the box up.

Marge

I had never heard of the wrong card "burning up" a reader/writer/conversion box before.

Pattiann

If you have a USB you don't need anything else.  CatX should pick up the drive.  Sorry I misunderstood you.

Marge

If you put the wrong card in the wrong slot it will burn the box up.  Believe me I did it.  My Janome 9000 took a SEW card and if I remember right it was blue.  My Janome 10001 uses JEF.  I was so used to putting the card for the 9000 in I put the one for the 10001 in the slot for the SEW and the box would never work after that.  I had to buy a new one. 

Marge