embird

Personally, I couldn't live without the Embird iconiser. For digitising I use Artista, so can't comment on the Embird one really, although I do have it - its not because i don't like it that i don't use it, but because i haven't had the time to sit down and get to grips with it yet.

ditto on the Iconizer. Best piece of software I have used for embroidery cataloging etc.

I use Wilcom for digitizing but it doesn't touch the Iconizer for the everyday browsing patterns without hardly a mouse click.

I found a free program on the internet to view designs, and that is why I did not buy Embird for a long time. But then, I could not find it again or get it to work right. So I bought Embird and Iconizer just to view the designs. The next thing I would buy, if I were starting again, is Font Engine. It is fabulous. It opens a world of knowledge. You can use any TT font and the Wingdings and Dingbats. Put them together and make your own logos for caps to express your moods. It is a party. The digitizing program and the editing program are hard to learn. Tutorials must be purchased. I enjoy it, but recognize that it involves a different type of thinking than I am used to. So the simple answer to your question is, of course, that it is a matter of personal choice. The trial versions are not helpful. They are like a recipe you get from someone who deliberately leaves out a secret ingredient so that yours will never be as good. When I say it is hard to digitize, I mean it. An alphabet plug in from Secrets of Embroidery would be a cheap way to start playing with lettering.

"judi." , went into print with:

Really Really great post, judi...now,, IF 0nly we knew just whom you were addressing and about what?? That would help, yeh?

Then I saw "Organization: