by undecided 03 Jun 2017

Digitizing Software: I know it has come up many times, and of course the offerings keep changning...so I am going to after YEARS of longing and scrounging and making due try to make a decision.


I would LOVE other peoples input, both the good and bad and their own experience with digitizing software. Ideally i would have a Million $ and could get a whole bunch of top end and try them all LOL! but i get to do this once, and I will be working hard with the grocery and kids needs budget to make it happen, so I really want it to be something I am happy about. Thank you kindly for any info you can share!

I saw a thread here about the new Hatch software...and @msjames said it was BETTER than Floriani! for stitch output!!!!

I did the Embird trial...I did not like the interface all that much, and the feature that i am really looking for (to digitize directly from an SVG) is not available in the trial version----and of course for digitizing means buying all of the modules plus the extra module for the SVG input, which i don't even know how well it works.

After a dealer visit I became convinced Floriani was the best...best cost 2x as much as the others that are already crazy! But they add the lure of free updates for life.... Then i read msjames comment....
and of course that brought me back to Hatch....

And also started looking into Embrilliance Artistic Stitch 3, which is about $1000, of course there are other add-ons for instance stitch density is an ADD_ON! and that boggles my mind!!! they do have a trial version, you can use all aspects of the software, and i can import the SVG, BUT I cannot test the actual stitchout quality.

Ideally i would sit down, give myself the same amount of time to digitize the same simple SVG on each software, and then stitch it out to see which yields the best results....but the Embrilliance demo program will not save --so cannot be stitched :(

please chime in with any comparison, what you love, what you wish you had, what you wasted your money on ( a fear that has had me not using my embroidery machine much for years while i figure this out LOL)

thank you

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by philippeichhorn 08 Jun 2017

If you are comfortable with Inkscape (an open source editor for SVG files), there are some plugins that allow you to convert SVG files directly to embroidery designs. There is even a website which does this http://svg2embr.wasbo.net/.

However, like others have mentioned before, the results are typically not great. They might ok for smaller / simpler designs, but those are typically designs which you aren also easily digitize yourself :)

As a embroidery noob starting with Embrid was really nice. Its affordable but powerful enough do everything you need.

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by pennyhal2 08 Jun 2017

I don't know of a program that will "to digitize directly from an SVG" and you mostly have to "clean up" anything that is auto digitized. Please let us know if you find software that does what you are looking for!

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by toogie 08 Jun 2017

On your second link, I like the price of embroidery scissors for 15 cents! They were in Scissors for the Work Basket. Postage was 5 cents and if you wanted it registered mail, add 8 cents more. I wish they still were that price.-lol

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by undecided 07 Jun 2017

today i spent a couple of hours trying to pay for the software online and had some difficulties with the website not liking paypal. DH said to wait until he got home....it was the first nice day since we arrived home and so he washed the truck before even coming in, at the very end i said he should wipe down the chrome wheels, because he was already there, and he found one wheel with 1 and a half cracked spokes and two more cracks starting....there goes my software :{

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by mrskiki 04 Jun 2017

I don't digitize but I do like Embrilliance a lot. I also have HusqvarnaViking Premier+ and use both for different applications. Good luck with your search. Hugs. Nan W

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by shirley124 edited 03 Jun 2017

Good question. I have the Janome Digitizer and will need to update to be able to do what i want with my 15000 Machine. Because of the price of the upgrade I am going to have to sell one of my Embroidery Machines. Not really a problem as the one I am thinking of selling I hardly use. My main problem is there is no back up service as there is only the one shop in the area where I live. When help is needed I am told "Oh I don't know how to do that, you will just have to play around and find out yourself" Thank goodness for You Tube. I have been going in and looking at lots of videos there. Hope you make the right choice. Hugs

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undecided by undecided 03 Jun 2017

yes thank you and so support and opportunities to learn are very important!

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by dragonflyer edited 03 Jun 2017

My go to currently is Janome Digitizer 5...because I started with Janome software...it does have some Pes interface issues...and the upgrades are expensive and come about every 3 years...I love Embird Basic for editing and the Iconizer is fabulous...then I got Palette Next...big mistake and I never use it but my dealer talked me into it, lesson learned...I also got the Janome Artistic Sotware but never loaded it and it is still in the box. It has a digitizing side, but it's main functions are for their Artistic cutting machine...I also recently got the Floriani FTCU...and it is a very good program...and free upgrades for life...believe me, I have spent more keeping my Janome upgraded that I did for the Floriani FTCU program...Floriani also supports SVG and most all cutting machine formats..a plus these days, too. If you get the Floriani software at one of their events, it will generally be less that just purchasing it from a dealer. Lots use Embird Studio, but you have already tried it and it is not "your cup of tea"...I am still learning the Floriani FTCU software program, but it is very user friendly and there is so much educational information available and that is very important. It is a very personal decision...let us know what you find out and decide to do...As a side note, Wilcom makes the Hatch software program and Wilcom also makes the Janome Digitizer software program...they are practically the same software programs...but as Janome has the Pes interface problems...Hatch has the exact same problems with the Pes format interface...so for me Hatch is a no go option...and you will still need to pay for upgrades with Hatch...

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undecided by undecided 03 Jun 2017

great point on the upgrades. too bad about the pes. I have a janome machine, and the only emb. software i have used is janome customizer...so i think that was why i originally thought of it...but am too scared of future cost. the embrilliance is attractive price wise and i know it will do what i want...not sure it it will do it the best...and i have no idea on the stitch quality.
and aside from Pes issue i have not heard anything but good on the Hatch.... so still not ready for a decision, but I am going to keep working towards it!

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by graceandham 03 Jun 2017

I have never regretted the money I spent on Floriani. The very best feature is future updates and upgrades included in the original cost. The upgrades last two years have been phenomenal. (I've had it more like six years.) Fabulous weekly lessons and projects for continuous excellent training. For great reduction in price, purchase it during a Floriani event and save several hundred dollars.

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undecided by undecided 03 Jun 2017

oh the weekly projects, i'd forgotten about that!
thank you

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