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there is a free filing system you can download below its best to file your designs as you start out and not leave it till its a nightmare to sort out good luck Hugs Shazells
4891thanks for all the good advice. Does anyone want to sell their pe-design software?
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46919I have been learning on 4D and upgraded to 5D. Yes there are cheaper types of software out there, but, Ibelieve, you get what you pay for. The first project I did was digitize a photo of my Grand-D for a pillow top. The software basicly did it for me. I was so proud of it. Also almost any design can be saved in whaterve format you use. I know a lot of cuties use embird. I tried the free download and was very disappointed. It overrode my 4D program and would let me open my files in 4D. (Maybe I did something wrong) but I got so flustered that I removed the software. Also I think having a good dealer is very important. Mine took the time to show me how to use the program, and its components. They will still help me when I ask for help. 4D has an orginizer included that will show you thumbnails of your saved designs and the critical info of each design, a wonderful feature. You can of course resize any design in 4-D or 5D. 5-D seems to be a little more user friendly. These programs also have a stitch editor which allow you to go into the design and will show you where the stitches are high in density and allow you to remove unnessary stitches, for a softer more supple design.
Another thing about 4-D & 5-D is the number of hoop sizes it supports. I don't know about Brother but my Creative Vision machine came with 3 hoops 120 X 120; 360 X 240 & 360 X 200. I have purchased the 150 X 150 & 200 X 200 hoops as well as the endless 180 X 100 hoop. (All in mm) That reminds me when you set up the soft ware you can choose mm or inches. With 5-D you can take a pic of the article you want to embroidry on and look at differant designs on it before embroidering. Also can easliy change colors, or thread types. 4-D & 5-D have built in font creaters, any font you have in your computer can become a embroidery font in about 10 seconds. Very Cool.
I know this has been a long note but there are just so many features to 4-D & 5-D. Get you dealer to sit down with you and show you how they work or what they will do.
One othe thing be careful on e-bay and other type web sites because if the software dose not come with a dongle it is worthless & Husquarna will not replace a lost one for free. This is their anti-theft device. I haver been told if you have even a small portion of a damaged one they will replace it. You know the old adage "Buyer berware".
Mary
by asterixsew
16 Dec 2010
PE design can be set up for a variety of frame sizes and the same goes for converting any font in your computer to an embroidery font. I use this part a lot
1561Welcome to Cute! I like you, have a brother, but mine is only the innovis 1250! Asterixsew answered the question for you below and has been very helpful to me when I asked any question about digitizing software ! Im sure you to will become addicted to this site! :)
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70753I've got 3D and Embird. I prefer Embird, it costs a fraction of the price of 3D and is a joy to work with and you can buy different modules when you need them without having to buy the things you don't want.
When I upload a design here I use 7 different formats, including pes. So, yes, you can use almost any software.
145196For someone just beginning the craft of machine embroidery, I would suggest going slow in purchasing softwares and other supplies. This craft can become rather expensive. I have been machine embroidery for several years and purchased supplies in volume to save money, but found later there were other cheaper brands of thread, stabililizers, and softwares that worked better or just as well.
I was advised by someone who had her own website and had been digitizing for a long time to purchase Embird, should I decide I wanted to try my hand at digitizing. She said she had learned on Embird, before upgrading to the much more expensive Generations software. As yet, with so many beautiful designs available, as well as freebies, I have not felt the need to learn to digitize. What is so great about Embird is that it has a basic software that has so many wonderful features to enhance the craft of machine embroidery, plus plug-ins that you can purchase later should you design you want to learn digitizing (Studio), Photo Stitch, and monograming (Font engine with alphabets).
I purchased Embird basic (approx. $120) to allow me to convert formats, increase/decrease design size, merge designs, and print paper templates to align correctly designs onto item to be stitched. The Embird Iconizer
plug-in (approx. $20) is the best investment I have ever made! This plug-in allows one to view actual size, full color designs with info within folders instead of just seeing format icons. You can locate a particular design so much faster when seeing the design. I have a Brother machine, also.
The best way to organize your designs is to create an Embroidery Designs folder on your computer. Then alphabetically create subfolders within this folder for the different types of designs, as "Animals, Birds, Cats, etc. Within these categories you can create subfolders for the different types. If you find particular websites or digitizers you prefer, you may want to create a subfolder with their names to store their designs, then categorize as to type within.
I did not intend to make this so long; just trying to help! Good luck on your new venture into machine embroidery!!
Angel
by sewdeb
16 Dec 2010
Wow, I wish I had read this before I was "shaken down" by my Viking dealer! Thanks for the info.
12500I have 4-D Extra, and I also have a Brother with PED Basic. I can use 4-D to save my designs in pes or any number of formats, and organize my embroidery designs for my pes or my Viking. Hope this helps, but remember when 4-D digitizes, it is with Wizard, and it does it automatically. You just make choices as to what you want done. I have done some digitizing, but not a lot. I woulld like to have Embird, but can't at this time. Hope this helped a little. Hugs, Judy
92391I went to my dealer one day and she was trying to sell me the 5D and said it is compatible with all machines. The best thing to do is go where they sell what you want and look/see if the machine is compatible. It should say what the recommendations are. Also WELCOME! Be for warned this place is very addictive.
36693Hi and welcome to Cute.
I have a Brother Galaxie 3000 and bought PE Design to go with it. I have version 5 so I am not sure about what the extras are for version 8. There is also another type of PE design that is new NOT PE basic.
I find the PE design great for what I want and as it works in PES I do not need to convert to another format. I think to find out the specific differences between the two packages you mention you might need to ask a dealer for their advice. But PE Design is the Brother Softwear and Husquvarna Viking is designed for their machines. I look forward to seeing what others say on this question
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51302I use the 4D and I don't see why you can't use it to digitize and organize anything. You may also check out the new 5D. You can take any design and change it to the format that Brother uses. Is that PES? I love the 4D. Just can't afford to change to the 5D at this time, but hope to in the future. Good luck. Sorry, but I don't know anything about Pe-design 8.
by theduchess
16 Dec 2010
Watch Ebay 5d and 5d Extra have been going for about $255. Beats the Viking retail price. I don't have any software but do just fine.
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