What's all this software
There has been quite a bit of discussion on the various lists regarding what software does what so here's my two cents worth
A very brief description of the various software packages for the home embroidery machine enthusiast. There may be some errors or omissions - please let me know so that I can correct them.
This page was last updated April 4th 2002
Manufacturer Specific Digitising / Design management Software:
Product | Manufacturer | Formats - Comments |
PC Designer | Pfaff | PCS (PC), PCM (Mac) |
Creative Software 4 Parts Customizer Stitch Editor Digitizer Cross Stitcher |
Pfaff |
PCS, VIP Viewer, flips, mirrors etc. adds lettering. Modify stitch types, Split designs, Re-Color manual / semi auto digitizing auto / manual XS creator |
??? | Poem / Singer | CSD, XXX |
PE
Design 4 Parts :- Design Centre Layout & Edit File Utility Programmable Stitch Creator |
Brother | PEL,
PEM, PES, PEC semi auto design creation manual digitizing / lettering, combining etc read / write cards Create fills and lines |
Wizard (similar to PED) | Bernina Deco | PEL, PEM, PES, PEC |
Palette (similar to PED) | BabyLock (Brother clone) | PEL, PEM, PES, PEC |
PE Scan | Brother Hand Scanner | PES, PEC |
Scan Soft | Janome / New Home / Elna | SEW, ARR |
Personalizer
2000 2 Parts: Easy Edit Easy Layout |
Janome / New Home / Elna | SEW,
ARR (Upgrade of Scansoft) |
Customizer 2000 | Janome / New Home / Elna | SEW, ARR (Similar to above but with read / write box) |
Digitizer
2000 Full featured Digitizer |
Janome / New Home / Elna | SEW, ARR (full digitising) - requires Personalizer or Customizer) |
Customizer 10,000 | Janome / New Home / Elna | JEF, MEM |
Digitizer 10,000 | Janome / New Home | Requires Customizer 10,000 |
Utilities | Janome / New Home / Elna | Smartfixer - repairs
designs Easy Hoop - for multiple position hoops |
System 5 | Husqvarna / Viking (for D1) | HUS, CAN, SHV |
Prof
Embroidery System (Multi functional ) |
Husqvarna / Viking | HUS, CAN, SHV |
Artista Designer | Bernina Artista | ART (plus all others) |
? | Tajima (Industrial standard) | DST |
EDS IV xtreme | Melco (Industrial Standard) | EXP |
The Niche Programs (or at least some of them)
These are either non format specific or have been created to fill a real or perceived gap in the features provided by the machine manufacturers. Where known, I have included a URL in the first entry of each manufacturer.
(Please send me details of others so I can add them, also any amendments (I don't have all these products so am guessing a bit on some) or any links I have got wrong
NOTE - I have included a few programs that are not Machine Embroidery but are allied to it in various ways.
Manufacturer | Product | Format | Brief outline of features |
Buzz Tools | Buzz Catalog | All
but ART* * convert From ART, not to it |
Catalog
viewing and printing, Design Unzipping, Batch Format
conversion, Text file creation, can correct some faulty
designs http://www.buzztools.com/ |
Buzz Tools | Buzz Edit | All but ART* | Design Editor (Flips, Mirrors etc) Resizing, stitch and colour editor |
Buzz Tools | BuzzXplore | Most | Enhanced Buzz Catalog but
in a format similar to Windows Explorer® Two versions - Embroidery and Cross Stitch |
Great Notions | SmartSizer | Most | Design
Combining, Colour Editing, Flips, Mirrors, resizing
Format Conversion http://www.greatnotions.com/ also http://www.amazingdesigns.com |
Great Notions | SmartSizer Gold | Most | As for Smartsizer but with enhanced colour edit features, also batch format conversion |
Great Notions | SmartSizer Express | All? | Add on to Gold - full featured design and stitch editor, |
Great Notions | Magic Box / Amazing Box | Most | Software
/ hardware combination Multi format card reader / flashcard writer - for people with more than one brand of machine. |
Great Notions | Click n Stitch | Auto Digitizing program | |
Balarad | Embird Plus | Most | Design
management, Unzipper, Format converter, create BMP/JPG
from designs, Design, point & colour editor, splitter
/ joiner , thread catalogs http://www.balarad.sk/ |
Balarad | Sfumato | NA | Plug in for Embird Plus which creates a variable density stipple pattern from an image file |
Balarad | Fonts | NA | Plug ins for Embird Plus - provides for adding text to designs - Fonts seperately purchaceable |
Balarad | Iconizer | NA | Plug in for Embird Plus - interacts with Windows Explorer to make design icons small thumbnails of the designs |
Husq / Viking | Resize Plus | Most | Resizing with stitch
re-count http://www.embroiderynetworks.com/ |
Husq / Viking | 3D Convert & Sort | Most | Similar to SmartSizer Gold |
Husq / Viking | Cross Stitcher | Most | Development of Uli's Cross Stitch program - extensive XS creation tools, |
Husq / Viking | CD Editor | HUS | Design Editor (Comes with CD DesignCatalog) |
Rudolf Veit | Atomizer | EXP | Design
Splitter (freebie) Rudolf has some other free software http://hometown.aol.com/beacoqui/index.html |
Rudolf Veit | Exxxterminator | Format converter utility
(freebie) mainly for Pfaff users |
|
Rudolf Veit | Kwik Draw | PCS | Creates simple geometric shape designs |
Uli Tessel | Kruez (Cross Stitch) | KRZ PCS | Simple, easy to use XS creator freebie (no longer available) |
Fulford Software | Turbo Cross | Most | Full
featured Cross Stitch creator - inc. clip gallery http://www.turbocross.co.uk/ |
Fulford Software | Easy Cross | NA | Counted Cross Stitch Pattern Creator |
knitandsew | PEDS | PEDesign
(& clones) simulator - does away with need to have
read / write box connected. http://www.knitandsew.demon.nl/index.htm |
|
knitandsew | PES2Card | PEC, PES, HUS, SHV | Software
/ hardware combination Card reader / writer for high capacity cards Utility functions available as a free download http://www.knitandsew.demon.nl/index.htm |
Sewing Room | Easy View | SEW | Viewer for Janome Designs http://www.sewingroom.com |
Johchims Freebies | EMBCopy | PES | Design
management / cataloguing http://www.lorissa.de/ |
Joachims Freebies | PES View | PEC, PES, PCS, DST | Quick design viewer and format converter |
Joachims Freebies | EasyPEC | PES | Converts PES files to earlier version PEC |
Needleheads | Stitch Shop | Professional
Digitising Software http://www.needleheads.com/ |
|
OESD | Simon Jnr | ? | Basic
features editor / re-sizer? http://www.embroideryonline.com/ |
OESD | Sizing Magician | ART | Resizing utility for ART designs - provided free with OESD catalogue CD |
Cactus Punch | LetterEZ | ? | Professional
Lettering Software for digitising standard fonts. http://www.cactus-punch.com/ |
Echidna | Easy Sizer | Import / Export most formats | Design Editor and re-Sizer- http://www.echidnasewing.com.au |
Echidna | Easy Lettering | As for Easy Sizer | Lettering Software |
Echidna | Easy Writer | SEW | Software / hardware Card writer (single design) for Janome 8000,9000,5000,5700 users |
Thredworks | Thred | Digitising Program, similar to Pfaff | |
? | Autodigitizer | Automatic Digitising program | |
Origins Software | Origins | most | Fully
featured Auto (and manual) digitising Software http://www.ostsoftware.com |
Cybertex | Win Stitch | NA | Counted
Cross Stitch Design Creator http://www.sharewarejunkies.com/8zwd9/winstitch.htm |
? | Patternmaker ME | Cross Stitch Design Creator ? | |
M&R Technologies | PC Stitch | NA | Low cost Counted Cross Stitch Design Creator |
Compucraft | Stitch Craft Gold | Counted Cross Stitch Design Creator | |
RoboStitch | RoboStitch | most | fully featured Auto
Digitizing Program http://www.robostitch.com |
Dakota | Dakota Sizer | Design Editing and Resizing | |
Bri Ton Leap thru BabyLock |
Designers Gallery | most except ART | Design management and
editing Utilities. Thumbnails, format conversion, create
pictures from designs, create basting, .....Add on
Utilities include Colour Sequencer, DensityWorks, SizeWorks, Hoopworks (auto design splitting) and Project advisor http://www.babylock.com |
Bernina | Artista Cross Stitch add-on | optional add-on for Artista Version 3 | |
Pulse | Pulse Publisher | Embroidery Catalog
Creator http://www.pulsemicro.com |
|
Melco | Sizer | Most | Resizing / Editing
program www.melco.com |
Melco | Letera | Most | Lettering Software |
JASC | Paint Shop Pro | Shareware Graphics program allowing for picture file format conversion, picture retouching, resizing etc. available from shareware dealers, Computer Magazine CDs etc, |
I hope that I've been able to clear a few cobwebs.
Any amendments, Please E-mail me
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