suehenyon wrote:
Sue, I'm sure you are already doing this but just in case -- make sure to 'always' save your work as a native file as well as saving it in the format you need for your embroidery machine. Sorry, I don't have a full version of Artista. Is art the native file or the file needed to run your embroidery machine?

If you create a name and do file save, what is the extension that comes up (cnd, emb?)?

This will allow you to keep very important information that gets removed when saved in a machine format.

suehenyon wrote:
Your Bernina software is not expensive....trust me (don't ask how much my commercial software cost). The company that makes my commercial software (Wilcom) also makes Bernina's software. If I could sway anyone to a particular software other than mine, it would be Bernina because the brains of the software is second to none. The keyboard fonts are bar none the best in the industry and I have proven it to folks using other brands.

As for the update soon to be released, RUN don't walk to get it. You will not regret your purchase. I already have the update on my software. I think the commercial industry are the official testers for glitches. Having Corel be a part of the software is awesome.

Now if you buy some of the Dover vector art packs that are royalty free, you can very easily create cool designs with minimal work. Although, I'm a big fan of learning how to path and digitize manually, it helps to get a jump start with autodigitizing.

JoJo

What Beginning Machine Embroidery at Quilt U does is walk students through getting used to their embroidery machine. This is NoT digitizing. This is the class that just finished, but you could email Joanne Winn to ask when it will be presented again.

If you view the videos on exnovodesign.com you can watch the author digitizing, manipulating, designing, changing colors, etc. She shows how to change the position of jump stitches, how to split designs, how to multi-hoop, how to manipulate the hoops in the software. I watch these videos over and over until they are part of memory and they are there free for reference in the middle of the night.

I would like to retract what I said about Bernina Software being expensive. The intial outlay may seem pricey, but given the free educational tutorials available, and the versatility, it may be a deal. It sounds like some other companies have modules that can be purchased. This is one big package. Check the price of some commercial software. Yikes. If anyone wants to know what I paid, email me.

What I really wanted to do, and am learning to do, is take royalty-free clipart (ex. Dover Publications) and make my own quilt designs and embroidery designs from it. Additionally, any TrueType Font can be digitized with this version of the software including dingbats and webdings.

I get tired of forking out the big bucks for someone else's designs especially when they are "simple" as in quilting designs or redwork.

If anyone knows other free online tutorials for using software, please post them.

Thank you to everyone who has responded. A lot of good information has been given and has been very helpful. I too will look at the University information and go from there.

JoJo, regarding your offer to put together a tutorial on machine embroidery... count me in. I've had my Janome 300e for many months and have yet to turn it on. I am so intimidated by all the issues of hooping, stabilizers, centering, understanding the mechanics of the machine, sizing, thread color changes, etc. etc. If you can shed any light on these topics so I can get beyond the 'fear' and start using this machine, I would really appreciate it. I have no trainers or shops nearby that offer help. I will look into Quilt University though!

I loved your initial and subsequent responses to the original issue and I am sure glad Bobbi asked it![/i]

JoJo, I would certain be interested in some tutorials. I am going to check out Quilt University, also.

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

Thank you JoJo for making me get my information straight.

Bernina Embroidery Software V5 can save in any machine format (at least the major ones I would recognize, 25 different formats. I save as .art. I can import .pes & it converts the file to .art. I've never tried any other format. I guess that means that this software works for many machines.

Version 6 will be sold in late August to September. According to the forums I've been reading, folks are really excited about the upgrade. It will have a version of Corel Draw incorporated. The only downside is that it is really, really expensive.

I love Artista software. It is complex, but so versatile. I've had a fantastic time learning it. I can digitize any .jpg, including drawings of my own that I scan. It is, howevery, proprietary to Bernina machines.

***

Your not saying that Artista can only save in embroidery formats that work with a Bernina are you? I thought Artista was different than that and could save dst and many other formats.

When you are digitizing, what is your native file format extension?

JoJo

http://www.quiltuniversity.com has online classes on how to use embroidery machines and software. Joanne Winn is the teacher. The classes are inexpensive & although I wasn’t a total beginner in the Beginning Machine Embroidery class, I learned a lot. It may be awhile before the first class comes around again because it just ended. Although she states what machine she owns, she stresses that the class is for all embroidery machines. In the first class there is information on downloading designs, converting them to formats for the various machines, etc. She is familiar with most machines & is very helpful on helping solve problems.

From there, the level of courses increases in using embroidery machines. QuiltUniversity is worth a look for all kinds of embroidery, quilting & machine arts.

All software has many features in common, just as all word-processing programs have features in common. If you are interested in watching free lessons on Bernina Artista software, go to http://www.exnovodesign.com for great lessons on digitizing, creating machine appliqué, just all kinds of stuff. If your computer connection is not extremely fast and the videos “jerk”, the lessons can be downloaded.

In addition, the http://www.berninausa.com site has many free lessons on the Bernina software through the Quarterly Software Society. Go to Learn It! and wade through the many lessons.

Although your icons may be different in software for other brands, and some features may be different, if the basic understanding is there, learning a different program may be easier.

I love Artista software. It is complex, but so versatile. I've had a fantastic time learning it. I can digitize any .jpg, including drawings of my own that I scan. It is, howevery, proprietary to Bernina machines.

I hope this helps.

JoJo, you are correct. The current config does not allow any additions and you are correct about StudioPlus and SizeWorks. ColorWorks allows you to manipulate the colors. If I want to bring stuff in and manipulate, it appears the program that is needed is CustomWorks, at least from what I read. Of course then I see they have HoopWorks (allows to work with multiple hoopings and works with SizeWorks to adjust image sizes) and then QuiltWorks II for quilting within the hoop. From my reading, all of these are stand alones but need StudioPlus to launch from and will work with CustomWorks.

I do know I want to bring designs in from other CD's, be able to manipulate and combine designs. As to designing my own, to be perfectly honest, that scares me some, so must say that would be way down the road.

Time for more research. Thanks again. Bobbi

Bobbi,

I went out to research your software and I see that:

StudioPlus is meant to Organize, Catalog, and, Convert (Spend more time embroidering instead of hunting for design by easily organizing your entire design library. This complete design management platform allows you to quickly catalog designs and instantly find them later.)

SizeWorks is meant to Enlarge, Reduce, and Recalculate designs.
(Too big? Too small? Just right! Mark your designs and your project ideas a perfect fit. Designer's Gallery SizeWorks software allows you to enlarge or reduce the size of any designs – all while maintaining a perfect stitch count. SizeWorks lets designs work for projects of any size, for perfect embroidery ever time. )

I couldn't find anything on ColorWorks. What is it supposed to do?

Does StudioPlus allow you to "ADD" anything to the design?

It appears that with your current configuration of software additions, you can't actually add anything to a design. Is my assumption correct?

JoJo

Hi,
Thanks for the reply. I have a Bernina 440 emb. machine. I have taken classes where I purchased it. Tried out doing some designs and still cannot do what I want.
It would be great if you could help us out with this. Rina in Ma.

JoJo, thanks so much for all your insight and knowledge. It is a BIG help. I know the software I currently have was pushed by the Baby Lock retail dealer and is what Baby Lock pushes on their site. With further reseach (much more is needed ) I have pulled hidden memories from the ole noggin that there is much more software available to me from Baby Lock and I just don't have all the right pieces.

So, before I go and invest more money on the Baby Lock side or any one elses' side I will be doing a lot of reseach as to what is out there and what works best for me.

To answer the poll question - I would be interested.
Thanks again, Bobbi