 |
PE-Design Embroidery Digitizing Software: Getting
Started
This article is in response to the emails I receive from my
website asking for my thoughts on PE-Design. If you are
considering purchasing embridery digitizing programs, I hope this
information will help your research.
What is PE-Design?
PE-Design is an embroidery digitizing software system
available from Brother dealers and though the 'PE' stands for
Personal Embroidery, don't let that fool you. It's a robust
system that allows for some pretty advanced digitizing and
embroidery and is an excellent program to begin learning the art
of embroidery digitizing. The Graphical User Interface (GUI) or
What-You-See/Interact-With-On-The-Screen is colorful with large,
intuitive buttons and fly-outs. It's also organized very well
with no clutter for a large workspace.
PE-Design allows the digitizer to convert a digital picture to
stitches and save it in a format that can be read by the computer
in your embroidery machine. The image can be one you've hand
drawn and scanned, one created in another imaging program such as
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, or JASC Paint Shop Pro, one
you've captured (legally, of course) from the Internet, a CD or
floppy, or a digital snapshot from your digital camera. Whatever
the case, the original image must be in .jpg, .gif or .bmp
format.
The PE-Design full product package includes a card
reader/writer. It must be plugged into a USB port in order for
the program to run. Though you can install the program on any
machine, it can only function on the machine where the
reader/writer is installed.
Once you've created your design, you can save it in Brother
(*.PES), Husqvarna/Viking (*.HUS), Melo (*.EXP), Tajima (*.DST)
and Pfaff (*.PCS) formats. It is a Brother product, so its native
format is PES.
What Does It Cost?
The program will probably run you somewhere between $1,000.00
and $1,200.00, but if you are purchasing an embroidery machine or
are a good customer of the shop and don't mind a little
dickering, you might be able to negotiate a substantial savings.
It never hurts to try. Here's a tip: Before you buy ask your
dealer if any major upgrades to the software have been announced.
If a major upgrade is forthcoming and you are in no hurry, you
may want to postpone your purchase. Major upgrades come with a
price, usually in the range of $250.00 to $300.00, and must be
purchased from a Brother dealer. Though a major upgrade is
usually worth the investment, you don't want to purchase the
software one month just to have to shell out more money a few
months later. Minor upgrades, from the current version 6.0 to
version 6.03 for instance, are free, and are downloaded from the
Brother web site.
Commercial or Home-based?
PE-Design is designed with the home-based digitizer and
personal embroiderer in mind. That means that many functions or
settings are automatic with limited manual control available to
the digitizer. Commercial digitizing software is just the
opposite: Functions and settings are in the hands of the
digitizer and automatic settings can be adjusted and saved. Of
course, commercial digitizing software will cost five to twenty
times more than PE-Design. Still, in the hands of a skilled and
creative digitizer, PE-Design produces excellent embroidery
designs.
Beginning to Digitize
As with any sophisticated software be prepared to practice,
practice, practice and use your creativity to explore and push
the program to its limits. Learn the fundamentals of what makes a
design sew out perfectly, then look at the designs you like with
an analytical eye. Ask, "How did they do that?" and try to
recreate the technique. With time you'll develop your own style
and find your digitizing niche.
Many shops offer digitizing classes. Ask to sit in for free on
a few before making a time or financial commitment. If all the
instructor does is follow the booklet that came with the
software, save your money. You'll probably teach yourself
quicker.
Speaking of the manual: It is 262 pages and was obviously
written by a team very familiar with PE-Design and the English
language. It is well organized with plenty of images and
screenshots, is very easy to read and covers the basic use of
every tool in depth. It is not a digitizing teacher. Use it to
learn the tools, it won't take long, then practice, practice,
practice.
The Bottom Line
If you are interested and excited about learning to digitize
your own embroidery designs, whether for personal use or to sell,
I think PE-Design is a wonderful way to get started. Its
reasonable entry fee and easy to use and learn interface, will
allow you to reach new creative heights in all your
embroideries.
Deb Schneider is an embroidery design digitizer and offers her
machine
embroidery designs on her website: WindstarEmbroidery.com.
You can email Deb at [email protected].
 MORE RESOURCES updated Sat. April / 01 / 2023
|
|
|
Related Hobbies - Crafts articles:
Starting A Coin
Collection
The best place to start collecting would be with pennies,
we will focus on the Lincoln Cent for the years 1909
through 1958, which are the Wheat Cents. There are still a
number of "wheat cents" showing up in circulation, so it is
possible to start a coin collection without spending a
great deal of money.
Making Beaded Jewelry Is
Easy to Do
Making beaded jewelry is an inexpensive and fun hobby that
nearly anyone can do. The materials needed are readily
accessible and cost very little money.
The Most Powerful
Attribute in Antiques and Collectibles
What can increase your sales volume and make you more
productive day in and day out? You've probably heard this
three word statement that separates those who wish they
could do better, from those who really do. Knowledge is
power! This three word statement is more than just a great
philosophy.
How to Make Your Own
Refrigerator Magnets
There are several types of refrigerator magnets that you
can make with a little effort and the right materials.
Below are some ideas for making magnets for gifts or just
for fun.
Are Your Airbrush
Products Selling? If So, Here Are 3 Ways To Further
Skyrocket Sales!
One of the biggest challenges faced by airbrush artists are
proof of what you say is true! The potential customer is
going to find it hard to believe you. Whether it is, if you
can do the work, whether they think you are charging them
too much, or it is simply that you are artistic, potential
customers are going to find it hard to trust you.
Coin Collecting - A Fun
Hobby
Over the years, collecting coins has grown from being just
a hobby to becoming a full-blown enterprise with numerous
Internet sites devoted to coins. Over the next several
weeks, I will give you a little background about coin
collecting to help those who want to pursue this as a hobby
and maybe even make some money in the process.
Preparing For a Leather
Craft Project
Once you've decided on your leather craft project, you'll
need the right tools and room to do the work. Being
prepared ahead of time will make your task more enjoyable
and give you a sense of satisfation when you're done.
The Nuts and Bolts of
Vintage Tin Toys
Before Game Boy and Play Station, there were tin toys.
During their heyday, these whimsical toys amused children
for hours.
Handmade Quilts are Made
with Love and Make Great Family Heirlooms!
Today's handmade quilts are more like a work of art than a
bed cover. With all the wonderfully artistic quilt patterns
available to quilters today, we are beginning to see some
absolutely breathtaking quilts glowing with character and
personality.
The Leather Look,
Accents, and Punching for Your Scrapbook
A leather look can add elegance to your scrapbooking
page. To create a unique leather look, simply distress
cardstock.
Picture Frame Crafts For
Your Kids Party
One of the most popular party favors is a framed picture of
the party guest taken at your kids party. He or she could
be showing off a silly hat or party costume, performing an
outrageous party game stunt, or wearing a face full of
frosting and ice cream.
Save on Kids Craft
Supplies - Recycle!
Here is some information about how to collect and use
recycled objects in your crafts!You can save a lot of money
on arts and crafts supplies by saving things that you might
ordinarily throw away! If you are building up a craft
supply box for a classroom, daycare, church or school - get
the parents involved by sending out list of these items so
they can help out too!Make sure to prepare each item for
storage. Wash and dry anything that contained food or
liquids.
Woodworking Tools: Right
Selection And Care Will Save You Money, Part 6
Woodworking: Tools Of The Trade, Part 6 - Finishing
Equipment. A civilization's maturity and intelligence is
judged, in part, by the diversity and sophistication of its
tools. When it comes to woodworking, the human race is
quite advanced.
What Is An Un-circulated
Coin?
You may have heard the terms proof coin and un-circulated
coin, but what's the difference between these two? To
understand the difference between a proof and un-circulated
coin, let's first answer the question, "What is an
un-circulated coin?" Un-circulated means a coin has not had
any wear, such as the wear a coin might experience when it
is used in commerce. Handling a coin, as well as improperly
storing a coin, can result in wear on the surface of the
coin.
Remember When You Were
Taught How To Make Things From Metal With Your Bare
Hands?
How would you like the chance to use the skills you learnt
decades ago..
Make Your Own
Professional Gift Baskets
Ever given your family or friends a beautiful gift basket?
Gift baskets are such a wonderful gift and can be given for
any occasion. However, if you are like me you don't have a
clue where to start, let alone how to put one together?.
10 Slam-Dunk Crafts For
Little Kids -- And Bigger Kids Too!
Crafting with young children really isn't about creating
something in particular. Most young children don't have the
foresight to see what a project is going to be.
Gift Baskets - Create
Simple Easy Gifts For the Person Who Has
Everything!
Have you ever thought about giving a personalized Gift
Basket?Is it just me or do you also get excited when you
give a gift to your friends and family and you know they
love it!The downside you give a gift and you just know they
hate it! Unfortunately you can't always get it right
because what seems right and the appropriate gift for you
isn't always right and appropriate for the person you are
buying for.Take my mother for instance, if you don't buy
her a gift say for Mothers Day you will be in the bad books
for weeks.
Rubber Stamps - For
Teachers and Students
Once again we are reminded that summer is not long enough.
It is the beginning of another back to school shopping
season.
The Easy Way to Make a
Club Logo
Are you a member of a club or association? Have you ever
thought how much better your letterheads would look with
your own club logo? How about a sign for your club with
your logo and club name on it? Well, it is really very easy
to make up your own logo. It will be unique to your club
too.
|
|
