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. Since I last updated this list back in June 2002, there have been a huge number of new software products. I will hopefully find some time to update this note.
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 June 18th 2002
Manufacturer Specific Digitising / Design management Software:
|
Product |
Manufacturer |
Formats - Comments |
|
PC Designer |
Pfaff |
PCS (PC), PCM (Mac) |
|
Creative Software |
Pfaff |
PCS, VIP |
|
??? |
Poem / Singer |
CSD, XXX |
|
PE Design |
Brother |
PEL, PEM, PES, PEC |
|
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 |
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 |
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 |
|
System 5 |
Husqvarna / Viking (for D1) |
HUS, CAN, SHV |
|
Prof Embroidery System |
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. The list is alphabetically in manufacturer order.
|
Manufacturer |
Product |
Format |
Brief outline of features |
|
Balarad |
Embird Plus |
Most |
Design management, Unzipper, Format converter, create BMP/JPG from designs, Design, point & colour editor, splitter / joiner , thread catalogs |
|
Balarad |
Fonts |
NA |
Plug ins for Embird Plus - provides for adding text to designs - Fonts separately purchasable |
|
Balarad |
Iconizer |
NA |
Plug in for Embird Plus - interacts with Windows Explorer to make design icons small thumbnails of the designs |
|
Balarad |
Sfumato |
NA |
Plug in for Embird Plus which creates a variable density stipple pattern from an image file |
|
Bernina |
Artista Cross Stitch add-on |
|
optional add-on for Artista Version 3 |
|
Bri Ton Leap |
Designers Gallery |
most except ART |
Design management and editing Utilities. Thumbnails, format conversion, create pictures from designs, create basting, .....Add on Utilities include |
|
Buzz Tools |
Buzz Catalog |
All but ART* |
Catalog viewing and printing, Design Unzipping, Batch Format conversion, Text file creation, can correct some faulty designs |
|
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® |
|
Cactus Punch |
LetterEZ |
? |
Professional Lettering Software for digitising standard fonts. |
|
Compucraft |
Stitch Craft Gold |
|
Counted Cross Stitch Design Creator |
|
Cybertex |
Win Stitch |
NA |
Counted Cross Stitch Design Creator |
|
Daisy Software |
WinDaisy |
DST |
Shareware Digitising program |
|
Dakota |
Dakota Sizer |
|
Design Editing and Resizing |
|
Echidna |
Easy Lettering |
Import / Export most formats |
Lettering Software http://www.echidnasewing.com.au |
|
Echidna |
Easy Sizer |
Import / Export most formats |
Design Editor and re-Sizer- |
|
Echidna |
Easy Writer |
SEW |
Software / hardware Card writer (single design) for Janome 8000,9000,5000,5700 users |
|
Fulford Software |
Easy Cross |
NA |
Counted Cross Stitch Pattern Creator http://www.turbocross.co.uk/ |
|
Fulford Software |
Turbo Cross |
Most |
Full featured Cross Stitch creator - inc. clip gallery |
|
Great Notions |
Click n Stitch |
|
Auto Digitizing program http://www.greatnotions.com/ also http://www.amazingdesigns.com |
|
Great Notions |
Magic Box / Amazing Box |
Most |
Software / hardware combination |
|
Great Notions |
SmartSizer |
Most |
Design Combining, Colour Editing, Flips, Mirrors, resizing Format Conversion |
|
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, |
|
HobbyWare |
Patternmaker ME |
|
Cross Stitch Design Creator ? |
|
Husq / Viking |
3D Convert & Sort |
Most |
Similar to SmartSizer Gold |
|
Husq / Viking |
CD Editor |
HUS |
Design Editor (Comes with CD DesignCatalog) |
|
Husq / Viking |
Cross Stitcher |
Most |
Development of Uli's Cross Stitch program - extensive XS creation tools, |
|
Husq/Viking |
Autodigitizer |
|
Automatic Digitising program |
|
Husq / Viking |
Resize Plus |
Most |
Resizing with stitch re-count |
|
Joachims Freebies |
EasyPEC |
PES |
Converts PES files to earlier version PEC http://www.lorissa.de/ |
|
Joachims Freebies |
PES View |
PEC, PES, PCS, DST |
Quick design viewer and format converter |
|
Johchims Freebies |
EMBCopy |
PES |
Design management / cataloguing |
|
knitandsew |
PEDS |
|
PEDesign (& clones) simulator - does away with need to have read / write box connected. |
|
knitandsew |
PES2Card |
PEC, PES, HUS, SHV |
Software / hardware combination http://www.knitandsew.demon.nl/index.htm |
|
M&R Technologies |
PC Stitch |
NA |
Low cost Counted Cross Stitch Design Creator |
|
Melco |
Letera |
Most |
Lettering Software |
|
Melco |
Sizer |
Most |
Resizing / Editing program |
|
Needleheads |
Stitch Shop |
|
Professional Digitising Software |
|
OESD |
Simon Jnr |
? |
Basic features editor / re-sizer? |
|
OESD |
Sizing Magician |
ART |
Resizing utility for ART designs - provided free with OESD catalogue CD |
|
Pulse |
Pulse Publisher |
|
Embroidery Catalog Creator |
|
RoboStitch |
RoboStitch |
most |
fully featured Auto Digitizing Program |
|
Rudolf Veit |
Atomizer |
EXP |
Design Splitter (freebie) |
|
Rudolf Veit |
Exxxterminator |
|
Format converter utility (freebie) |
|
Rudolf Veit |
Kwik Draw |
PCS |
Creates simple geometric shape designs |
|
Sewing Room |
Easy View |
SEW |
Viewer for Janome Designs |
|
Tacony |
Origins |
most |
Fully featured Auto (and manual) digitising Software |
|
Thredworks |
Thred |
|
Digitising Program, similar to Pfaff |
|
Uli Tessel |
Kruez (Cross Stitch) |
KRZ PCS |
Simple, easy to use XS creator - freebie (no longer available) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 meBy the way, You are Visitor number to this page since Sept 24th 2000