My husband and I would like to know how you start digitizing. Is it software or what? Have difficult is it to learn?

well hope to see some digitizing from you in future :)

Hi, Tina! There are two things to learn about digitizing a design: first and most important, how to path, how to compensate for the push/pull of the threads, how to avoid exessive jumps and a million thread changes, etc. The second thing is how to choose and run your digitizing software. You can have the 'best' software in the world, but if you don't have the basics down first, you still won't produce a good design. I have a Janome 300E, and my late husband purchased the Janome Digitizer Pro package along with it, and I love it. But, I do spend more time on the computer digitizing than I do sewing. My dealer has free lessons with the software, and I got the one with the manual, because I learn better reading than watching tutorials. Embird seems to be a great program, and not as expensive as the Janome, and seems to have a huge number of tutorials and groups to help you perfect your skill. It's just an opinion, but don't buy it because you think you'll make money off of it, because I don't think you will. If you want to do it because it's really grand to sew out a design you created, and you're willing to put up with the learning curve to do it, because it's a BIG one, then go for it! It's about the creativity, the art, the idea that you can have something totally exclusive, and the pure joy of it. If you're a bit of a computer geek and creative, digitizing is great. If you want to sit and sew, I'd advise you to purchase really good designs from trusted websites like this one, and get good at using them in creative ways. It's a matter of personality, I think. My machine would be out the window in the snow if I had to try for perfect placement of a dozen designs on a table cloth! But I'll sit and digitize a design I may never even use for days at a time. I guess I'm saying before you make a major purchase, know who "you" are, and what you really want to be doing with your time, and what you hope to get out of it. We're all different, that's what makes the world so interesting! Hope this helps, hugs, Marji

1 comment

by tinasitz 29 Dec 2009

Thanks for your help. I am not so sure that this is something that we want to do if it takes up that much of our time. I spend enough time just sewing. I will stick to getting designs from Websites. Thanks again for your help and explination.

Thank you for asking the question. Thank you Meganne for your wonderful answer. I also agree with katydid. I have software but no time to learn. I have ideas I would like made into designs but hesitate to ask anyone because I know the extreme amount of work which goes into the design. The sites I visit most often talk of spending hours a day working on their designs. I too like katydid would like to tweak a design now and then. All the best which ever way you decide.

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by meganne 29 Dec 2009

Ideas for designs are always welcome, just email me and I'll let you know whether or not they are feasible.

I digitised a design for DH's work apron for Christmas and spent three all nighters to get it done to my satisfaction. Yes I think we digitisers are a sleep deprived, mad breed. LOL!!!
Hugs n roses, Meganne

I could not agree more with Meg. A good design is a joy to stitch and mediocre digitising never gives excellent results. It takes time and effort and lots of perseverance to get it right. But it's a joy to succeed. I don't think you'll make a lot of money without being at it day and night.
And I too prefer Embird above Viking 3D (never updated to 4D), although I do use the latter for some tasks.

I use Embird for digitizing, it is an affordable software and it has many tutorials online. It's not difficult to learn. Just time consuming. Hugs,Yoriko

I have Bernina machines and Bernina artista software. my software has the capability to digitize, but I am not computer savvy enough to be able to use it. If someone would sit down one on one with me, I know I could learn. There is a lot of time involved in digitizing and I would rather be stitching and there are folks who would rather play on the computer. I run across many designs that need a minor tweak and i wish I could fix a minor error. Good luck. Are you a sewing person or a computer person?

1 comment

by meganne 29 Dec 2009

Katy, if you ever have a design that needs a "minor tweak" please feel free to give me a holler as I find it very rewarding turning a problem design into something worth stitching. And I sit up late most nights anyway, I'm one of those who prefer to "play" on my pc than work at my machines. LOL!!!
Hugs n Roses, Meganne

Hi Tina,
My first question would be: do you want to digitise because you think you'll go into business and make money?
Because there are so many phenomenal digitisers, who will tell you they don't make money, they do it more for the love of it, and practically give their designs away.

If it is purely for the fun of it, you need to weigh up the time & costs involved for purchasing the software, then purchasing tutorials to learn how to digitise, this is of course, after you have learnt how to use the software.

Good digitisers have spent many hours, days, weeks and months, learning to digitise, then honing their skills and they never really stop learning as there is always another technique to try and master.

How do you know a good digitiser? Their work is a dream to stitch out and the end result will be a pleasure to behold.

So what do we get out of it? The challenge of creating that beautiful design, watching it stitch out on a machine and having other people say how much they love it and how well it stitched out, and knowing they mean it.

That doesn't mean they will buy more from you though, they probably only tried your free sample and unless you sell your designs ridiculously cheap, or give them away, you probably won't see them again.

If I sound cynical it is because I have seen too many digitisers web sites disappear and far too many who have massive reduction sales, just to make a few pennies.

But having said all that, if you love computers and enjoy artistic design, then you will love digitising and find the challenge of creation rewarding in itself.

As for programs, the most user friendly, most reasonably priced, and the best supported program by far, is Embird.
I have added a direct link, to the official Embird site, for you and I hope I have given you a, no-nonsense, peek into the fascinating world of digitising.

I should mention that I also own Viking 4D; Xpressive 2 by Pulse; PEDesign lite and Creative Drawings by Corel, none of which I ever bother to open since I purchased Embird.
Hugs n Roses, Meganne

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by manami 29 Dec 2009

Oh Meg, this is so true!!! If there is no love for arts, one will never want to learn digitizing :)

This is a site that will give you free embroidery digitizing instructions different each month.http://www.oregonpatchworks.com/O... All you need to do is join her site, however, it is well worth it. She works with all software. H&*

My advice is to Investigate, Investigate, Investigate. Talk to the folks where you bought (if you own one) your embroidery machine ... you will need one to test your designs. Support is VERY important to get started. I have 4D Pro SW (a Viking product and Pfaff has the same thing) and the shop where I bought it went out of business, so I'm left in the lurch. Also there are many sites that sell videos to teach you how to use their SW. See if you have a local quilt guild, and see if anyone there owns SW. Ask, Ask, Ask ... you started out right. Even though there are many sites that DO sell beautiful designs, like THIS ONE, it is always beneficial to learn throughout your life ... NEVER stop. Most of the major sewing machine mfgs have their own brand of SW and each has good and not so good points. I saw some Generations SW and that also looked interesting. I do like Viking SW, but please check around before making such a major purchase.

Hi, yes you do need special software. Janome produce 2 levels and there is also Embird. It is extremely expensive - Janome's professional version is over £800. Not sure about the price of Embird. You can find the latter on a website called www.secretsof.com. I should love to do digitising but cannot afford it.
Happy New Year
Angela.

http://www.oregonpatchworks.com/c... This maybe of help to you. H&*

When I first got my machine I was disappointed that I could not afford the digitizing soft ware. However, since seeing how hard it is to make a "professional" looking design (a relative has been learning) I am no longer wanting the software. With so many embroidery sites and the wonderful array of designs available at little cost, or free, I have decided that I'll never do it!

I am not a digitizer but will learn one of these days. You must have SW for digitizing. I have Embird & there are a lot of others out there. some of our digitizing Cutes I know will talk with you about all your options. *