an informed consumer without the frustration of getting a program with lots of built-in frustrations. I'm psyched to take some of my own art and turn it in to something that my embroidery machine can stitch out.

Formats Artista will open and save as.

Art
Pes
Pec
Exp
Emd
Hus
Shv
Vp3
Vip
Pcs
Pcd
Pcm
Pcq
Sew
CSD
XXX
Dst

I have had Artista software since late 1990s.
Now have Version 6. It is incredible in what it
can do. If this is your choice. I would suggest
shop Ebay for older version making sure it has a
working dongle. Then upgrade is
cheaper than buying new. Mine sends designs thru a
USB cable, flash drive and the older cards to machine.
There are several Artista users here which is wonderful. Bernina has a free downloadable program called ARTLINK that you can use to send designs to your machine with. Try it first as it allows yyou to resize, flip both ways and resize. This opens and saves to all above formats also and IT'S FREE.

Sue

Whichever you decide on...MAKE SURE YOU HAVE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT! I have Embird (not the Studio program for digitizing) but the Editing and Iconizer part. Also have Janome ProMB3 and now just got Palette 9. Janome has problems upsizing and downsizing designs. Distortions. Can size the same pattern with Embird, Palette and Janome..Janome is the only one that doesn't do well at more than 20% increase, especially with candlewick, stem stitch, satin borders or crosshatched areas of designs. My biggest frustration though is not having enough educational support. BabyLock has almost no support for Palette 9 on their website yet. Embird support is out there, but you need to buy a tutorial with it, or buy it from someone who is already experienced with the program that will include extensive lessons. Janome MBPro3 is same, very little available from Janome directly..and some parts of the program don't work as they are touted to, especially when trying to do large designs with multiple hoopings..this is a major problem. So, make sure you get LOTS OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT for whatever you decide on!

Thank you everyone for answering my questions. You have all given me quite a bit to think about. I've watched videos of various digitizing methods before, so know that it isn't as easy as sitting down with a coloring book!!
For the record, I have a Brother Innovus 4500D. It is too bad we cannot go to a software store and tinker with the different embroidery digitizing software programs to see which one is best suited to each of us.
I really appreciate you all taking the time to share your information and opinions. That really means a lot!!!

You did not say which Embroidery machine you have. As I said below I have Artista ver 6 , designer plus ans I also embroidery with Bernina machines, but I notice in my classes that many have different machines , but prefer to buy to the Artista software. Be careful, if you go to a dealer, you may leave with a very expensive machine, but you will love it!!! Kay

I use Embird at home with my Brother Inoviss Duetta 4500 and IDS which is the commercial version of Generations at work on a 2 head Prodigy. I like the Embird lots because it was affordable for an entry level digitizer. I will tell you that Embird was able to resize some designs that the big IDS program couldn't handle. For the money I am glad I went this route. You can purchase the program in steps so you don't have all that cash up front.

I like my 'Design Shop Pro Plus V9' from Melco. It does a lot of things with a single click which I like a lot. There is a great users list (Amaya Users List) where many of the Melco techs and users in general are very generous with their expertise to assist anyone with a question. Design Shop has several levels. The one I have is the top and is somewhat pricey. There are many others that are cheaper. There are big differences in how they work so do your research.

I also considered Wilcom before I purchased Design Shop but the top Wilcom software was 3 times the cost of Design Shop. That quickly made my decision. I really like Design Shop and am glad I picked it.

You should attend one of the NNEP shows so you can see and try several of them. You can also talk to others who use them all. http://www.nnep.net/
The next show is in Houston and the one after that is in Nashville. You don't have to be an NNEP member to attend.

All the programs have a learning curve in order to get good results. Good luck to you with your digitizing journey.

Marcelle
http://embroideryavenue.com/
http://embroidery.gotop100.com/

My late husband bought me a Janome 300E, and he bought me Janome Digitizer Pro to go along with it. Personally, I love the program, but it was expensive. What kind of machine do you have? I have heard many many people say how much they like Embird, and that it's easy to use, and there are plenty of tutorials out there for it. I don't have it, but perhaps when this comes back to the top someone will have more information for you. I know there's a free trial, and I think it has all the functions except being able to save a design, but not sure about that. Best of luck, do your homework, and have fun learning to digitize!! Hugs, Marji

There is a digitizing program called DRAWings. They offer a free trial evaluation, but I haven't tried it; I've just been content with plugging along with my 'low-end of the line' Singer Futura auto-punch program. Twee is right about putting in the time and effort with learning to digitize. You just don't sit down and believe you can digitize in less than half an hour. I've digitized some of my own art/ideas with fairly good results... but it took a lot of time and experimentation to get those results. The reality is that even if you pick up the nuances of digitizing quickly, the learning process will be ongoing for as long as you keep at it. The most important thing is to have fun, but be persistent.

1 comment

by starlizard 26 Jul 2011

Okay... I only had half my thinking cap on when I posted the above this morning. LOL! The link I gave you is for the commercial version... my eyes nearly rolled back into my half empty thinking cap when I just went to research it further. They do have a home embroidery version: http://creative-drawings.com/
The sticker shock isn't as bad. BUT, you need the previous version which can be found on eBay: http://shop.ebay.com/sis.html?_kw...
On that page is a list of other brands of digitizing software. I hope I haven't confused you too much. Good luck. Liz

I use Generations. The feature that I like best is that you don't have to jump from screen (window) to screen to digitize. It's expensive but if you watch for a sale, it is really a sale. They also offer free digitizing lessons. I received so many bonuses with my purchase; clipart, instructional cds and a year free membership to Artistic Threadworks. Their customer service is great. You can also take a "test drive" at a special price. If you purchase the program, they take that off the sale price as well. You can digitize the first time you use it. My other program came out of the box twice and I was ready to throw it against the wall each time. Most digitizing software you have to upgrade every two years. Generations is so far ahead of the others that they haven't had to upgrade in nine years. You might want to check it out at Artistic Threadworks. It's extremely user friendly.

I use the same program as Twee. I have a Bernina machine and the Artista programs are proprietary, I believe, to the Bernina product. It is an amazing program, but it is difficult to find support for Bernina products in my area without traveling quite a distance, therefore lessons are almost impossible, so everything I have learned is self taught and that is why I have so many jumps in my designs. I am still in a learning curve and if I can get that worked out I'll be feeling good about my designs. If you have your own art, then you really need to learn to digitize, as it is the most fulfilling feeling to take that art to the next level and turn it into stitches....You Can Do It!!
Vicki

Hi there
I use Embird.. I love it ..And am still learning to master all its features.. At the moment I honestly cant think of any negatives even the price although alot is much cheaper then a lot of other brands..
I also have Brothers PED design 7, i just can not get on with it.. I believe its just what you get used to a bit like mac or windows lol..
Perhaps your local dealer will let you play with different softwear..

Big hugs from London
Maria xx

I use Artista V6. I'm not familiar with any of the others, but I like what I've learned so far. It does way more than I currently know how to do. I think with any program you have to put in the time to learn how to use it. Now that I've spent tons of time I find it quite easy to use, but I've just begun to scratch the surface. Good luck with your purchase.

1 comment

by katydid 26 Jul 2011

I have your same software. I had to keep up grading because each time a new version comes out, the dealers no longer offer lessons in the older versions. I wish I could digitize. I keep taking classes just to try to get the basics as I am not computer savvy . The color program alone is worth the up grade from ver 5 to ver 6. Also you can preview art files with Internet explorer, without the software even being open. love that new feature also. Kay