Hi , I would like to learn how to digitize for personal use and am overwelmed by the software out there can anyone suggest a easy begginer software program for making my own designs :)

I think that everyone whom digitize has a software that they like the best. Some softwares are more expensive then others. And that depends on how much you would want to spend. Also every software has a learning curve. It takes time and patience to learn. The good thing is each software has tutorials or yahoo groups that will help you. I myself have Embird and had it for a number of years before I set down and learn how to digitize my own designs. And I don't know if you have downloaded any of my designs from this site but they all were created thru Embird Studio. Digitizing is not something you learn overnight, it takes time to learn, create and digitize. My suggestion to you is to try out different trial freewares in the digitizing softwares and see which you like the best. I wish you luck and success.
Smiles
Sewinhuggs

1 comment

by lani02 20 Mar 2011

I am willing to pay for a design to be used as an applique patch. It needs to be shaped like a police shield badge. With a parrot in the center and the word Parrot arched across the top and Patrol reverse arched on the bottom. CAn you make this? How much would you charge?

I bought Embird, Embroidery Magic2, and another one that I can't even remember. Got the free Stitch Era. Of all of them I'll take Embird. Not that I've been able to do much, but at least I can kinda figure it out. The others just don't cut it for me. Don't even have them on the computer. The $300 that I have in Embird is the best money that I've spent. The Iconizer alone is sooooooooooooooooo nice. I can adjust stitch order, delete whole sections, change colors so they show up better with the Iconizer and a whole bunch more.

Depending upon your resources, I suggest two options. One is cheaper (or at least you can buy the parts in increments) and one is fancier and probably a bit more user friendly but mroe expensive. I personally use Embird. There is tons of support and tutorials you can get for it online. I have paid for some of the best including a book and disk from secretsof .com site. I suggest you try the demo on that one. The studio part is the digitizing module. Generations is a fantastic program. I suggest if you go that route (or really not) that you check out Artisticthreadworks site for the generations lessons and such. Cari

Embroidery Magic 2 (EM2) is my suggestion. Reasonably priced, Aunty M has done an amazing tutorial for it, AND the best part is, you can join her help group and she is "there" to help you as needed with tons of info, tips, aid. I use this program daily.
http://www.auntymdesigns.com/html...
One up from that is Fancyworks which Aunty M uses herself on a daily basis. It does lots more, a little more expensive, and yes, Aunty M comes with that software too.
http://www.auntymdesigns.com/html...
Tell her Joyce said "hi"!!

A lady that has digitized for years and has the more expensive software, Generations, advised me to
purchase the Embird program, whenever I decided to learn to digitize. It is the best for the price, according to her.
Angel

All things become easy with practice and I hear some would have liked more advanced software.This can add to your expences so consider if you might want more advanced features.
I have Pe-Design and love it (the manual is my best friend)
From Bev

1 comment

by danababes 20 Mar 2011

My choice is PED too, but the manual? I dont think it goes into enough detail for a new digitiser so I joined a yahoo group to learn.

I have looked into buying digitize software myself. the really good ones are very expensive, like $1000. easily. I have embroidery magic2 and stitch era universal now. with the sitch era you need to be online to have it work and it is missing features I would like. So I haven't used it much. Magic2 I have only used to delete items out of a design, this program requires the cd to work, which can be a pain.
I am planning on buying embrid myself after looking into them.
reasons why are
price is great
can use anytime with no cd's or internet connection
upgrades are reasonable priced
lots of tutorials and help can also purchase dvd's, online lessons and yahoo groups. so lots of info for learning. this is the major reason besides the price.
I would make sure you do your homework before purchasing a program. Make sure you have lots of help to learn the software, this is not something you want to try and learn alone. there is a lot that goes into making a design, underlayment, density and you have to think about the pull compinsation for the material also the layout of the design.

Hi..I have Embird which is very easy to use.I dont have Studio yet,which is required to make your own designs,but I buy different plug ins when I have extra money to spare.I didnt want to spend big$$$ on something I might never use.I absolutely LOVE Embird.Hope this helps.
Regards Lynda

Try using the search engine on the left (all topics) and enter "software".

1 comment

by mops 20 Mar 2011

That's what I would suggest to. There are lots of answers there as the subject comes up every month or so.