Software HELP!

[debi@thebeach]

Someone PLEASE help me with this. I have a new embroidery machine and need some software. I cannot see my designs on my computer and I may want to do some digitizing. I don't know which software to buy...it's so expensive I don't want to buy something and wish I had bought something else. Please give me your opinions on software you use or wish you had or wish you hadn't had. :confused:
Thank you all so much~
Debi
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[ewigginton]

I feel for you! I purchased my first embroidery machine (Janome 350) a little over a month ago and didn't do my homework first. I am very happy with the machine ~ but felt like a sheep when purchasing it just going along with the salesperson's advice. Unfortunately, before everything was said and done, I had spent an amount equal to the price of the machine on software. I don't regret the purchases, though. The salesperson did listen to me and her recommendation worked for me. Since I didn't plan to do a lot of digitizing but did want to do personalizing and use fonts to embroider words, the Digitizer Pro software I bought makes this easy. It uses the fonts on your computer to produce awesome digitized typeface. I've been having a lot of fun putting fun sayings on kitchen towels, etc. I also have to warn you that digitizing is truly an art which takes a lot of study and practice. As I've heard quite often, many people find out digitizing isn't really for them.

Read as much as you can online about your machine and determine what's out there that suits both your machine and the uses you have planned for the software.

Regards,
Ellen

[debi@thebeach]

Thanks Ellen for your info. I will check out software as I have not heard of that one. I have the Brother Innovis 4000LTD. I am so fustrated after spending so much on a machine and then having to buy expensive software to.
Debi
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[twin mom]

I have the Bernina Artista AutoDesigner. I started with the free version of the software that came with my Artista machine, learned how to do all that I could do with that, then bought the software. I am most impressed with the quality of the designs that I can make with it, but have to say that it is pretty complex. There are a lot of different functions that it can do, and just figuring those out is more than just a little complicated. The instructions are good, though.

I've had a lot of fun with it, and have made some really cool things. I especially like that you can see what it will look like when it's stitched out on the computer screen.

Good luck!

[ewigginton]

The Janome DigitizerPro is only for the Janome machines. Sorry. :(

[debi@thebeach]

Yeah, Ellen, I saw that when I went to look at the software.
Keep those suggestions coming...I'm still shopping!
Thanks
Debi
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[hottestmama27]

I had the Viking 4D Professional and really liked it. However, I just sold it with my machine to upgrade to the Viking LE and this time I went with Generations. My dealer (who is wonderful) has always liked it out of all of them. I would take a look at what it can do. I will let you know how I like it in a few days.
Thanks

[hottestmama27]

I also like the Palette for starting. It is very easy to learn.

[ajsmom]

I have a D1 and the software that came with it, but I finally broke down and bought Embird. It is awesome! I use it all the time and rarely ever open the other. I have the embird basic and font engine, and plan to add Studio sometime soon.

It is well worth the money and I highly recommend it.

LS

[Sewmuchfun]

Debi,

I have the Bernina Software. It's not the high end designer software but allows me to edit and change my designs. I did have the Brother Software previously but to me it was a bit harder to use. The Bernina software is wonderful and if you want to actually digitize a design the higher end Bernina Software is wonderful. My Aunt has it and Loves it! If you just getting into this though I would go and ask someone at the different dealers to show you and allow you to try it out. Digitizing is not a real easy thing to do and can be very time consuming. But with all things some people love it. Good luck with you Software Hunt.

Amy

[debi@thebeach]

Thanks so much...I am a Bernina fan myself so I did consider checking out their software. So thanks for the info on that. I assume I can use it as I use the PES format not the ART. I have a Brother Innovis 4000LTD, couldn't afford the "Nina". I have an 1130 Bernina sewing machine that I LOVE from back in the '80's...oops...showing my age. :D

[rodneytb]

I have Embird software with Embird Iconizer so I can see my designs in the folders on my computer. I love Embird. There are many support groups on Embird and that is how I have learned. You can download a free trial fi you want to see what it is like.

[kurthco]

Talk about expensive software. The upgrade from PE Design 5 to 6 is $300+!!
Ladies,,,this is a very expensive hobby!

[nutmeg495]

Make sure to check that your software is compatible with other machines and formats. Designer Gallery software is easy to use and you can buy tools to add onto the basic software, so you only buy what you need - also compatible with all formats

[sewingfor3]

I have a babylock which is compatible with brother I think. I use Designers Gallery software, I did spend more on the software than I did on the machine (my machine is small). I love my software, would like to be able to digitize,but I can not. If you have the palette you can digitize, but I was told it sells for $1300, $1300 for the software + whatever you paid for your machine. I got the Amazing box a couple of years ago and use it with designers gallery instead of the palette and it works fine. There is a new version of the Amazing box out. hope this helps.

[ShirleyC]

I also have Embird with Iconizer and Font Engine. I have never regretted that purchase. It is just what I needed and easy enough to use. There are many tutorials also available on the net.

[fun2sew]

I have the PE-Design and love it!

[Sew 'N Sane]

I have always wanted to get the Janome Digitizer, but I'm wondering if I can get similar results (for less money) if I buy the Embird.

Any help you guys can give me will be greatly appreciated.:)

[idesign]

The Janome DigitizerPro is only for the Janome machines. Sorry. :(

Actually, Digi Pro by Janome is for other machines, too. I started out with the Janome 9000 about 9 years ago, and their first digitizing program. Over the years I upgraded my machine, and software--all Janome. Last year, I decided I wanted one of the new semi-industrial machines, and after researching them, I bought the Babylock BMP6. My Digi Pro allows me to save in .pes or .dst, along with a whole bunch of other formats. I just digitized something from scratch the other day, saved it to .dst, and embroidered it out. It's great.

Digi Pro is made by Wilcom, which is highly respected as makers of digitizing programs. You picked a good one, Deb! Janome machines are great, too. I do wish that the digitizing programs were not so expensive though.

Carol

[Crafty Connie]

I bought the Designers Gallery Costum Work software per my sales lady recommedation that sold me my Babylock Esante. Are you familiar with this software? I'm not real happy with it right now and I was wondering if it's because I don't know much about embroidery that I'm easily confused or what. Right now my issue is: When I open a design, the colors the design show in are really off the wall colors and looks terrible. I can I get it to show in the colors the origional design came in?

[Snyder.crafting]

Someone PLEASE help me with this. I have a new embroidery machine and need some software. I cannot see my designs on my computer and I may want to do some digitizing. I don't know which software to buy...it's so expensive I don't want to buy something and wish I had bought something else. Please give me your opinions on software you use or wish you had or wish you hadn't had. :confused:
Thank you all so much~
Debi
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Debi - I hate to say it, but you definitely need to do your homework before deciding on what to purchase. I have HV 3D but without Digitizing. My "editor" in 3D allows me to do some manipulating, but not full digitizing. I do not have time to learn digitizing yet. I have read and talked with a lot of people about digitizing and I gather that all programs have a learning curve. Also, when talking to people to digitize professionally, almost 100% of them say they do NOT use 'auto-digitizing'. For digitizing, I have heard that if you want 'auto-digitizing', then find a program that also allows you to manually digitize as well so you can fine tune things. Ok, enough on that. I do have 2 links for you to check out. They are both companies that I have heard a lot of good things about and they both have FREE TRIAL offers. You can try it before you buy it. Embird is one of the most popular I have seen in all of the boards I have researched and Buzz Tools seems to be gaining interest.

www.buzztools.com

www.embird.com

Good luck in you research!
Jen

[Deedles]

I'm another Embird fan. With Iconizer I can see my designs in the file manager and Font Engine allows me to use any font on my computer as text. I can do most anything except digitize. It's a very powerful program, very reasonably priced and you can add the modules you want as you need them and not have to pay for features you don't want or can't afford at the time.

I was lucky and wasn't pressured into buying software. My first machine was used from a Sew & Vac store and they just weren't that pushy about selling things. It's hard to keep your mouth shut sometimes in the local Brother store when you hear what some of those ladies tell people buying their first machines. Those poor people think there's no way to get the design into their machine without software that costs $2K or more! They should all have Pinocchio noses!

[nutmeg495]

I bought the Designers Gallery Costum Work software per my sales lady recommedation that sold me my Babylock Esante. Are you familiar with this software? I'm not real happy with it right now and I was wondering if it's because I don't know much about embroidery that I'm easily confused or what. Right now my issue is: When I open a design, the colors the design show in are really off the wall colors and looks terrible. I can I get it to show in the colors the origional design came in?

I have customworks and I love it. There is a learning curve on the designer's gallery software, but stick with it - it's worth it. The color problem you describe is probably because the digitizer used a different thread color patette from another thread brand than your software is set up for. Print out a thread list that comes with the design.If you have the most current version of the software (free updates are available at babylock.com) then your colorworks tool is at the bottom of your design screen. Look on the lower left for a dropdown menu where you can choose a color pallete. Then you click on individual objects in the object tree at the right of the screen, click on the color you want in the colors at the bottom of the screen, and the color will be what you want. The format you are using might also affect the color selection. The format can be changed in the preferences under the edit selection on the toolbar. I know this answer is kind of long - sorry! Check with your software dealer and see if you can get the software tutorial DVD's. They're only about $25 but really help explain the sofware!

[nutmeg495]

P.S. -see if your dealer will sit down with you and SHOW you how to use the software - we do at my store and I think these lessons are as important as ther machine lessons - it means you'll get the most out of your machine

[nutmeg495]

Designer's Gallery just released Masterworks Lite which is digitizing software which is less complicated and much less expensive - still won't get me interested in doing my own digitizing, tho!

[hardworkfhe]

Pe design runs a little cheaper to start out. You can then add the Designer Software will work with it.

I'd stick with a Brother or Babylock software that is pes format mainly since you have an Innovis.