Just an observation - Many of the designs in the first few pages of DBC are accompanied by a digitising software image and no evidence of a stitch out. I for one would think twice before downloading one of these designs and likewise before posting a design I hadn't tested.

I have sent a message to Veronika about this and her words are






"that to stitch of a design is not basic and mandatory rule for posing a design on DBC"


I dont test stitchout all my designs, I use the simulator and tweek that way. My earlier designs probably have too many jumps, but it is a good learning curve for new digitisers to have "friends' try the design and comment in PM if there are problems. So do or dont download, I probabaly wont give away anymore designs, for a long while,as I dont always have time to stitchout.
hugs Helen<

1 comment

by cfidl 27 May 2013

Helen, I will test stitch for you. Let me know when. Hugs Christine

Since I posted ages ago some really interesting comments have appeared. While earlier I said that I didn't tend to dl untested I did recently. The design could have done with being tweeked and as a result of this I have not gone on to sew it out as I had intended.

May 8, 2013 -- Another great discussion - good to hear the voices of both digitizers and "downloaders". The more we know, the better our projects will turn out.

Oh dear. I thought all designs that are given away in DBC were tested prior to posting. There is a note from Miss V that says "One of the images has to be a photo or scan of the stitch-out of the design." but I see a number of designs being posted that do not follow this rule. So does that mean we should make sure a picture of the stitchout is there too so we know for sure prior to downloading the design?

Gammie

1 comment

by marjialexa 18 Apr 2013

Gammie, unfortunately everyone does not follow rules very well. People have often posted in DBC designs and right in the description said "Not Tested". It is up to the digitizer to test, not up to the Cute Embroidery site. Most digitizers who share their work do test it, and post a pic of the test stitch, as they are requested to do. If you don't see a photo of an actual stitch-out, then it's up to you whether you want to take a chance on that design or not. Unfortunately, you're the one who will need to be careful of what you download, because everyone doesn't follow the rules, just like in the rest of life. "Assuming" anything is always a bad idea, sad to say. Best of luck, Marji

Good discussion, Sue! If someone has requested a design like lettering, and hasn't given me an e-mail address, I'll just put it up in DBC as not tested. I have built in pre-digitized fonts in Janome Digitizer Pro (not auto-digitized true type fonts, that's something different again) so it shouldn't be a problem. But if I were to digitize a piece of artwork, I would surely test it before putting it in DBC. Unfortunately, sometimes folks get software and are so anxious to use it they get overexcited. They actually believe the dealer who told them or the blurb they read on the package about "turn a picture into a digitized image with the press of a button!". Hee hee hee, I'm giggling because if you've ever really digitized something, you know it just isn't true. And that's where the problem comes in. It can look good in the image on the digitizer screen when you do this and look at it in the "real stitch" mode. But if you look at how many color changes, jumps, etc there are, oh, my. And if you actually try to sew it out, you realize it's a disaster. But newbies get so excited with that picture on the monitor, and being the nice people they are they want to share it with the world. I think it's a matter of just plain ignorance of the process. That being said, the would-be digitizer should at least try to sew it out before giving it to the world, because then they'd learn a lot more about digitizing. It's not as easy as it looks on the box. I would personally never ever download anything, free or not, that was not tested and I could see the sew out. I have the luxury of having a digitizing program, where I can look at the stitches, do an on-screen sew out, and evaluate a design before I decide to use it, but a lot of people don't. And I'm not just picking on newbies, I've had to change some designs from Embroidery Library, too, where the pathing was off. It's really not doing people a favor to put up a design you haven't tested, it's a lot more like Russian roulette. I'd hate to be responsible for someone ruining a garment or a piece of fabric because I was so anxious to give something away and be thought kind and generous. Giving away what amounts to a thread nest isn't generous. And I don't think
"thanking" people for really questionable designs is kind, either. It just makes other unsuspecting people download something they think will be ok, when it won't. Thanks for bringing this up, and to all the digitizers who made great comments, wonderful adult discussion!! Brava, ladies! Hugs, Marji

2 comments

by pldc 25 Dec 2012

I agree 100% & boy sometimes it is really hard to digitize something & the hours that it takes well thats a whole other story too! I for one am thankfull for the stitiched out version of the designs too! hugs Loralye

by spendlove 26 Dec 2012

Well said - especially that last paragraph!

Amen....
If it is not a Real Close up of a Real Stitch out please do yourself a Favor and do Not get it! Free or not Free! you will be pulling your hair out trying to make it work, and trying to figure out what you are doing wrong when in fact it is not you..

Remember they are just like you and me, and if it is not perfect they will try to get around it and take far away pictures or Program Pictures but it is not a true picture..if it does not look like real thread do not get it. also if they do not know enough about this then what else do they not know and how mant times has this poor design be re-formatted.. that makes it evem more of a mess by the time you get.

Hi Sue, I have posted designs without a stitch out. As they are requests by cuties which I have done for them , there for request that they do a test stitch and advise me if there was any problems via a PM. That is why I now don't put them onto DBC but send them an email with the designs .
I dont always have time to do the test stitch, as well as the digitising.
Hugs Yvonne

2 comments

by spendlove 07 Nov 2012

Good point - I do the same as you.

by pldc 25 Dec 2012

I have to say good point to Yvonne I never thought of it that way, hugs Loralye

I don't do the digitizing because I prefer to do the sewing, so it's a matter of trusting my own ability to spot a goodie from a baddie, so for me, if it's not tested I do not download.

Thanks for the heads up!

I agree , I downloaded a large design and it took a bit of time to stitch out only to find it incomplete..And when I posted about the error it was not fixed.. It takes us time and cost of materials that many cannot afford to waste..

I find the designs with 'not tested' irritating. A bit like making a cake and then not cooking it. The longer I have had my machine the more selective I am about the source of designs I use. I will add that there are some brilliant digitisers on Cute who I know always produce quality designs. Thanks Sue for the excellent designs that you share after you have carefully sewn them out first. *2u

Amen, Sista!

I have only shared two designs so far and I only used my embroidery program image. I did test stitch the designs but I did not upload a photo of the stitch out because my old digital camera cannot be connected to my present computer. Yes I agree, it would be very nice to see a photo of the stitch out but each person should be doing a test stitch for themselves before stitching out any design.

2 comments

by mpo14011 edited 02 Nov 2012

If you have a printer that scans, you can scan your stitched out design.Just remember to resize the image before uploading it.

by sewmary15 03 Nov 2012

Thanks, I do have a scanner, just wasn't thinking.

I would only share a design I have tested.. which is why now i only upload in pes format, as that is the only format i can test..i always show a stitch out of my design.. so i totally agree with you :-)big hugs - maria xx

2 comments

by spendlove 05 Nov 2012

When I put my earliest designs up, I only uploaded JEF for the same reason. I was persuaded to widen the choice and there haven't been any problems that I know of.

by marjialexa 25 Dec 2012

Mooie, usually if you've tested it in whichever format your machine uses, the design will translate ok into whichever formats your digitizing software can make. I have Janome, so the native format is JAN, and I sew in JEF. But there doesn't seem to have been any problems with any of the other formats I've uploaded that Digitizer Pro will do. It won't do ART, as Artista won't do JEF. Would be a shame to have those who can't use pes miss out. Oddly enough, Janome doesn't translate pes well for me, hus is better. Hugs, Marji

Good advice, especially for websites who do not show stitch outs.

Hi Sue, I hope you are not refering to my fsl alphabet? I did test the letters that show in the picture but not others. None the less, I am digitizing the rest of the alphabet in the same way as those that were sewn out! If anyone has problems with any of the letters just let me know and I'll find the problem!!

1 comment

by spendlove 02 Nov 2012

Yours are some of the few which show stitchouts! Many show absolutely no evidence and, as Bettina says, are sometimes only the clipart.

Have to admit that I have dl last week a design where just the artwork was posted. After looking at it in embird I directly deleted it. I absolutly agree with you :o)
Greetings, Bettina