Digitizing Software

Claire, I don't know anything about the Futura. My Singer Quantum XL 5000/6000s *can* have designs loaded to them on Singer's proprietary card (Smart Media?).

I decided after using the machine for a while that I wanted to create my own designs, as well as use designs downloaded from the internet to my computer. The only way to transfer those designs to my embroidery machines was using Singer's (also proprietary) Professional Sew Ware(R) (PSW) software and dongle. I have used this software now for several years, and I like it a lot, although the manual is beyond confusing, and Singer does not support it or the machine any more.

PSW was expensive,

Thank you Beverly for such a comprehensive reply. I am out with Mum tomorrow, fabric shopping hooray, so I will ask some pointed questions as to what she actually wants to do with the digitizing. I have a sneaky feeling she wants to be able to be able to manipulate the designs she has and occasionally import the odd scanned picture but the last is not a biggie. I will have a look at the singer digitizing software and let you know if we advance at all. She is basically happy with what she can do now but would like to be able to change things sometimes, so full software may be expensive for the use she will make of it. Thank you again.

Probably Embird Basic will handle most of that.

Digitizing an image involves quite a bit of hands on learning. The various tools (outline, fill, branch, etc.) take some practice to perfect, and learning how to layer the colors is vital. It is not as simple as 'downloading a file, and some sort of magic happens' to convert it into a usable embroidery file. Trust me.

While I purchase many pre-digitized designs, I also LOVE creating custom designs. I bought older DD a William Morris tea towel at the V&A shop during our recent trip to England, intending to make it into an apron. I knew the dimensions of the fabric would have to be extended, so I planned to purchase a complementary material for the neck-strap and ties as well as to add to the top and sides. As long as I was making a custom apron, I decided to scan part of the print, digitize it, and embroider it on the top band. And then I used the left-over fabric to make hot-pads. ;-D

Top of the page here:

Your mother may never want to do stuff like that, but I really enjoy doing it.

They are seriously lovely Beverly.

Thank you. She seemed to like them. That goofy grin was the result of her having held the two hot pads a >little< higher when I first asked to take the picture. Got us both giggling. ;-D

I know your question has been answered - and of course all software packages work differently from each other - but now most embroidery software writes and reads to all the major file types. If u You want to see what is involved - a great teacher and professional embroiderer has around 40 instructional videos on you tube. Search for Oleens Embroidery.

Claire, I just remembered another software package I have used.

I have the free product installed on my desktop PC so that I can open purchased designs to take a look at the details before transferring them to my laptop/embroidery machine setup. The full product may be something your mother might want to investigate.

NAYY,

Thank you I will take a look, I haven't advanced very far with the project yet.