Ann The Gran Community

  I am curious what software everyone is using & how they like it.

Also, please include if you usually use it to digitize a complete design from scratch, OR edit a design already done?

I am finding myself most often in the position of having to digitize a complete design (usually logo's for shirts).  Usually this is lettering & some sort of pic.

Have any of you found a truly "good" software for "photo-stitching" ??  I can share that MasterWorks is not a good software for "photo-stitching", although so far I like it for many other things.

 Do you find that "one" software does most of everything, or do you still feel the need to use different software for different applications of your design?

Appreciate any input you can give me as always!!   Sincerely, Lollie in Oregon

Most of my digitizing has been logos also.  I use both Viking 3D and Brother PE Design for digitizing.  I much prefer the PE Design; it has a vector drawing program instead of bit map and it is much easier for me to use.  My machines are both Husqvarna Viking, so I have to convert anything I do from PES format to HUS, but conversion is very easy with either software.  I generally do the picture part of the design in PE and then go to 3D to add the lettering.  Lettering doesn't seem to convert very well for me and I have to do a lot of editing if I do it in PE first.  I've found the PE design to be more user friendly.  There also seems to be more web support and more training guides for the PE.  I've never done photo stitching, so I can't help you there.  My biggest problem has been finding royalty free graphics to use.  I'm not an artist and public domain artwork is hard to come by.  One of these days I'm going to learn to draw!!

Iself1,

Thanks a bunch for the info.  I agree it is hard to find the artwork & like you I'm not any kind of artist either!!

How long have you been digitizing?  Lollie

I want to hear more about digitizing too. 

I want to know if there are any good digitizing software products that are not too costly.  I have seen them as much as $1,500 and one even free (you have to have them convert your product for $4.50 each).

Hello,

I am new to ME. I was wondering what digitizing software you would recommend. I would like something not complicated to use and inexpensive. Thank you.

Hello All-

I am also new to ME but was ready to jump in with both feet.  I wanted to be able to stitch logos but also wanted to get software that I could grow into instead of out of.  I saved up for and purchased the Floriani software and although it doesn't quite fit into the "inexpensive" category I am truly loving it so far and have been very pleased with the auto-digitizing function.

I will admit I was and still am a bit disappointed that the software, especially considering the price, didn't come with a user's manual.  Floriani does offer a support forum but I initially found it hard to navigate.  I would really appreciate a book that I could reference at my own leisure as opposed to searching the web each and every time I have a question.

So, if you can get over the sticker price and don't mind teaching yourself how to use the software I would highly recommend the Floriani digitizing software.

Now that I read back over what I wrote I bet that doesn't sound like much of a recommendation.

Hmmmph!  Well at least that gives you feedback on Floriani

I have both Embroidery Office (EO) and Floriani.  I like them both.  Neither are inexpensive, though

I use the Floriani the most because I have learned more about it, and it seems a bit more intuitive than EO.  The forum is a great place for support, and if you have an urgent question, the help line is great, and prompt.  The drawback is that there are so few of us (at least where I live) that is is hard to keep a class going.  I have a friend that I work with.  She took the CD to Kinko's and had them print and spiral-bind the manual for her.  We spend time together, just learning the software.  It is pretty easy to use and does a fair digitiing.  I can clean up from there and get to where I want to bel

EO is pretty powerful.  I'm sure it can do a lot more than I know at this time.  I took a class in it and just scratched the surface.  Unfortunately, my machine dealer switched to Wings, and now teach that so I'm a bit dissappointed that I don't have such good local support for it.  It I wanted to really get into digitizing I would probably take some more classes in it, or switch to Wings. 

I use CorelDraw to do my vector work.  Then from there I can take it to either digitiing software and work on it.

Having said all that - I think that I need to learn A LOT MORE about digitizing before I can really feel confident doing it.  The more I learn, the more I find I need to learn!  I have much respect for those that can digitize great designs!

If there is anyone in the Seattle area that would like to "learn" together, check in at ATG Groups - Western Washington, and let's see what we can do!

SunRai Pat

I use Brother PE Design and I love it.  My husband and his brothers all LOVE the band KISS, so I found these circle icon logos that stand for each memeber of the band . . . I turned them into line work drawings and then was able to digitize them and sew them on shirts (each brother has his favorite band memeber, so I did the logo of their favorite member on a shirt)

I will have to try and find the picture of them and post it.  My brother-in-law is also in a band, and I took his band logo and was able to put it on a shirt for him . . . he wore it to a show and everyone wanted one!

Shawn

I use Husqvarna Viking 3D and 4D Pro.  I took a class on the software, but the best, most awesome teacher for this software is from Simply Excellent.  They have three double CD/DVD packages that you can purchase.  You play the chapter, pause it, make notes, minimize it and try it on your own.  I have found this lets me learn at my own pace and I can replay again and again to help me learn it if I need to.  They explain everything and show different examples of how the various features of the software work when digitizing from a piece of clipart.  It's expensive, as are all the others, but I highly recommend it.

I've also seen OESD's Exploration demonstrated.  It looks like it can do it all at a much more reasonable price.

I use the PEDesign7. I have used the photo stitch and it turned out wonderful. It took me a while to do it, but the end result was fantastic. The key is to have a good photo. I had to do a lot of cropping to the photo to get what I wanted.

 I have digitezed logos also. I found that was a bit easier. I did four different logos for my brother in law, he did not like any of them, went to a professional digitizer, then liked mine better. Oh well.

I also have Floriani, but have not had the time to play with it. I have heard lots of gals around here have it and love it. After putting the money into it, you wuould think I would take the time to learn it? Well, after the holidays I will.

I have heard that Generations is good also, but their support is not that great yet, and photo stitch is a bit harder. that is just the rumor I have heard. If anyone knows any different please let us know.

Great question

cme    8^)

I have been using Generations software since we bought our SWF muliti head machine in 2001. I have been using the editing software from Wilcom for mostly small lettering, taught by Wilcom via Webinar's.

 I have recently (Aug 2008) purchased Floriani's Embroidery Suite Pro 2008 and have experienced the Intense Frustration of trying to use their Forum and download the videos to find what I am looking for is not in that Video.

What CD did you use to print out a Manual?

http://www.rnkdistributing.com/ has a schedule for classes, I have e-mailed them asking if these classes teaches the Software or is it another two days with Walt looking at his Fathers Samples and promoting their stabilizer, they have not responded yet.

Walt does teach an extremely good class on how to Digitize with measuring distances for overlap and so on.

I use CorelDraw for my graphics, since we do Tackle Twill, I also use TwillStitch Pro to create sew disks for the Tackle Twill projects, plus I use Roland CutStudio for the cutter of Tackle Twill and Vinyl.  All three of these software packages were purchased after the Floriani software, I have been able to teach myself enough to do what we need to do with all three software packages from their built in tutorials or their manuals.  Yet I still have not been able to find all the uses of the Floriani software.

It appears to have an enormous amount of ability, but being able to find out how to use it has been VERY Frustrating.

It will save files in a Plotter format, is what is needed when doing Tackle Twill, but that information seems to be locked away somewhere not to be shared by the users of the software.

KWhitemanaz

I use Perito Module.  You can buy it in different compontants as you need to or can afford too.  I find it easy to use.  You can find it at peritohomesewing.com

Kelly

Hi there!  I am pretty new to this wonderful world of ME!  And I am loving it!  Many late nights playing, creating, and dreaming!

I am using 4-D and really really like it.  Many of my designs have been started in PrintMaster Platinum.  It took me a while to figure things out, but once I did (and thank you to my new BFF's from the Bolingbrookj Viking Husqvarna store!) I am more confident and creative!  I am seriously considering the 4D Pro now that I am getting more serious and wanting to start my own embroidery business, but the cost is frightening.  I embroider many equestrian related items, and have customers asking for embroidery of the horses.  Cannot do that on 4D, but I understand Pro will do  just that.

I have digitized several fonts that were in my font library, and some I got online.  4D has created lots of different styles of one font, that I can use in different projects.  The edit function is also so simple.

Happy stitching!

Yvette

I have bought my first digitizing BOOK!  I got "Digitizing Made Easy" by John Deer.  John is a recognized leader in the machine embroidery (ME) field.

Just reading that was a great deal of help for me.  It has helped me to eliminate a few of the software programs.  The book was $20 and gave a lot of insight.  It discusses whys and hows of different questions I have had.  Perhaps you may find one of these at a library.

He does not recommend one or another, but does discuss why the $1,600 software costs what it does. 

I recommend this book for so many reasons. 

Pat, The Avid Embroiderer

Hi, I use Embird. It is easy for me and it has a complete manual you can print out and read and experiment at your leisure. The instructions are easy to follow. You can buy the basic program and add as you want. I got the basic and later purchased the studio, and then the font engine. I think all that is around $400.00. Each time they upgrade, they notify you and you can download the new version free if you purchased studio. I digitize from scratch mostly, but I use the auto in some cases. If you have a clear picture the magic wand is very easy to use. All you have to do is click the wand on each color and your design is in stitches. The font engine lets you use any true type font and it converts it to stitches. You can also use vector art and it will auto digitise the design. I have not found anything you cannot do with embird.

bsue

Lollie,

I use 4D Pro software.  I have played with the photo stitching program but haven't stitched anything from it.  I prefer low stitch count designs.

I am very satisfied with the digitizing program in 4D Pro.  I haven't shopped around for other programs so can't compare, but I have been able to accomplish every design I thought up in my head.

I digitize from scratch almost exclusively.  I like the control I have over where sections of the design start and stop and can often avoid jump stitches.

Carol

If you're looking for artwork try http://www.doverpublications.com/sampler5/ .  Once you register there's tons of stuff to download free.

Be careful what you digitize - copyright law applies to clip-art as well.

I have PE Design Palette 5.0 Masterworks, 3D from Husquvarna Viking and just purchased Janome"s digitizing program which I have not opened yet. I cannot figure out how to use any of these.  I have wasted lots of money on these programs but they don't work for me.  I usually went to anthegran when I needed designs but the ones I "downloaded" never worked either. I guess I better just stick to the cards that already have the designs on them.

I take it you have a Janome being you just bought their program.  All of the programs you bought should have a help center and I don't digitize but I am sure it just takes practice to make them work.  I prefer to buy designs already done (lazy I guess).

Any design you download has got to be changed to whatever your machine takes.  If I remember right ATG designs are downloaded in PES format.  These have to be changed.  When you buy cards they are in the format that you use, that is why they work.  On some sites you can download in the format that you use and some you have to change.

I use CatalogX to change to my format which if JEF.  Look on this site and download it on a trial basis and I bet you can change your designs.  CatX is the best program out there for this.

Marge