is my biggest concern so that I can get a border even and in the right place. I know I can sew a design out and use that - but that takes so much thread and stablizer.

Thanks for all the answers! I am going to save up for the Embrid......
meanwhile I do have a mini amazing box that and guess what!?
I can print templates with that...... so that will do for a while until I save up.
Thanks ladies.
I have a Windows XP computer but when I get another one it will probably be Windows 7. Any problems with either of these PC's with Embrid?
MJDG

thank you for the question and the answers. I think I am ready to finally purchase some software and seems that there is a LOT of embird knowledge on this site. so, I am really leaning toward embird.

Thanx for asking this question! I have enjoyed reading all the answers. And I learned much! Think I will check out Embird. Thanx again. Hugs, Judy

Looks like all of us Embrid users are in agreement -- it's a great program for the money. It's easy to learn, the company gives you great support, and the last couple of upgrades I received were free.

secretsof.com has the best price around that I found, plus as someone pointed out, you get points that you can apply to free designs.

Definitely pay the little extra to get Iconizer too, so you can see a picture of your designs. You can always add modules to Embird Basic, if you decide further down the pike that you really want them. That's what I did, and eventually added Font Engine and then when I started learning to digitize I added Studio.

Enjoy!
Marion in KY

You got your answer! i bought mine from Secret of embroidery it is cheaper plus you get bonus points and later you could use them to get DESIGNS!!!! I love Embird!

Yep, Secrets of Embroidery is the lowest that I know about. I agree with everything that meganne said. However, I will add something that I was told once. And I still do it for the upgrades. Download your program from Embird. Then pay for it at Secrets. Seems you get a better download from the Embird site.

I would suggest that you get the basic program AND Iconizer. It was only $20 when I bought it and it is worth the entire cost of the program. I love being able to see the designs without having to open them. In fact that's why I bought the program after my trial was up. Also you don't need both Studio and Sfumato. They tell you that on the site.



User friendly? You don't get any friendlier than this program. Just be sure to copy and paste in a safe place any design that you're going to play with before you do it. I think I have something like $300 in my basic, studio and iconizer. Without doubt THE BEST MONEY I EVER SPENT ON EMBROIDERY. Now if I just had time to play with Studio more.

And with the "new" Deco 330 that I have, I've started printing out templates before I begin to stitch unless it's only one or two colors. Printing on card stock, so they're stronger. And I'm making a file to save them.

1 comment

by 2cute 08 May 2011

Does Iconizer come with the Basic or do you need to order each separately? How do download from Embird, but pay at Secrets?
Will these work with Xp computer and Viking 1 with floppy?
Thanks for your advice.
Marcia

Secrets of Embroidery is slightly cheaper than anywhere else.

Sign up (free) for their newsletter before you make any purchases and you will earn Secrets dollars for every purchase you make and you will also get your choice of their free collections every time you spend over $30.

Yes it is USER Friendly, yes it prints a variety of templates and it will write to Brother Innovis memory cards, (though I haven't tried it as I also have PEDesign so I usually just use that for transfering designs to my Brother machine.

The BASIC as you call it, is the main module and consists of Embird Manager and Editor and with those two main modules you can do amazing things.

You will only need Font Engine if you wish to create text designs from the true type fonts on your pc.
Studio & Sfumato you will only need if you intend to digitise.
Iconizer is Brilliant to be able to see all your design files from within Windows Explorer without having to open each one to see what it is.

You can still create text using Editor and purchasing their pre-digitised fully scalable Alphabets, they have about 30 different styles.

You can also purchase a Cross Stitch Module.

I have added the links below to both Embird site and Secrets site.

Don't forget you can download the full version of Embird and use it (with some restrictions) for a trial period before you purchase your licence key, which is sent to you directly from Embird, you install it into the program on your computer and it will unlock the restrictions.

You will not buy a better digitising program, even for thousand of dollars more and Embird is by far, the BEST supported program I have ever known, bar none and I worked in the IT industry for donkey's years. For example the last two upgrades were free.
Can't get better than that!

Hope this helps.
hugs n roses, Meganne

I think Embird Basic is easy (I don't have Studio yet). Yes, you can print the templates from there (several different kinds of templates in fact). You can get a 30 day trial to see how you like it and if you find it easy. You can get the trial at www.embird.com (which is also where I purchased mine).

Cheapest is here: http://www.secretsof.com/content/...

$400,- must be PE Lite. PE Lite came with my Brother and am saving my pennies to buy Embrid Basic and Studio. PE Lite is very light - I think the better investment is Embird.

1 comment

by mjdg 28 Mar 2011

Yes, it was PE Lite and I just don't want to pay that price for something I might not use that much. My machine is a 780D and it does anything I would want except it only has a 4x4 and 5x7 hoop. I got it on sale for $700 and the PE Lite was more than half that!
MJDG

Yes you can print out a template. The basic does sooooo much! You can resize, you can combine, convert and so much more. Yes it is easy to use.

1 comment

by anangel 27 Mar 2011

I agree! Love my basic Embird and all its features!! I do not know how I ever lived without the Iconizer plug-in to view full color pic of designs in folders, instead of format icons.
The best purchase I have ever made to assist with machine embroidery. I recommend checking out the Embird site!
Angel