The Computerist : designs

Embroidery Software and Recap of CatalogXpress and AlphaXpress

TheComputerist — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 19:08:00 GMT

If you frequent the Forums here at AnnTheGran or any other site, you will often see users asking which software for embroidery is the best. Some people even attempt to answer that question and some people know that there is no answer for it.

The reasons are (but not limited to):

It depends on what you want to do
It depends on what machine you have
It depends on how much you want to spend (they are all expensive including all software for computers)
It depends on what level computer user you are
It depends on what day it is. . . . .

If there is one thing clear to me, it is that embroidery is moving at the speed of sound. It changes daily, has new innovations hourly and excitement from newbies (as well as experienced users) are driving the entire craft forward to exciting and new heights. I am so delighted to be a small part of that change. You must be a little pleased as well - after all - look at your first projects and your most recent projects. You will see your advancement in understanding and quality. That is really terrific!! Now, compare that to dusting your furniture - do you have the same satisfaction?

Enough said!!!

I do want to get the information together for Catalog Xpress (CX) and AlphaXpress (AX) in one place for you to bookmark and refer back to from time to time. We cannot remember everything and frankly, I even check back to ascertain information when I work with AlphaXpress (the one I use daily). Even using it daily, I can forget a shortcut that could save me time.

Recap for Catalog Xpress (Don't forget that there are other freebies and tips in with the CX and AX information):

Making Notes for your designs. Among the BEST features of CX is the Notes feature. It allows you to keep information regarding changes, issues or anything you may want to keep. I keep things like the place where I purchased the design, the cost of the design and even how many times I have done the design.
Using Search and what CX does and does not do. Search has a lot of methods for your use, not just by name. It is so useful that you can find a design very quickly. Additionally, many users have a question about where designs are kept on their computer. CX does not "hold" the design, it is data about your designs only. That is also explained in the link called Search.
When you need to Resize CX is a great help. Your machine software may not be able to do an adjustment of more than a small amount. CX can do resizing, up or down as much as you like. Of course, it also adjusts the stitch count. You just need to be sure you are going to still have your design as you want it to look. That is where a 'discovery sew' can tell you if your design will be successful.
Format and Converting a format is complex and not taken lightly. I have had some software convert and mistakes can occur. CX is excellent for changing your format. You may get a new machine that does not use your old format or find a design that has to be changed. Make sure you can trust your conversion software.
Creating your own Colors with CX is quick and very important. You may want to change a rose from red to green to match your color scheme, but seeing is different than imagining. It can be quite interesting to make a change. Furthermore, if the background is dark, like denim, and your pattern is also dark, you may not get the 'WOW' factor you really want. A detail may be lost if the color is not right.
The feature of Multiple Sorting is possibly not well known but could be the best of the features. You can place a design in multiple places. For instance, if you have a design with a kitten in a flower bed with a butterfly, you can place it in those three different places and be able to find it three ways. You don't have to remember what the theme actually is about, it will come to you in multiple ways. And, if you are thinking butterfly but when the kitten comes up with it, you may see that it is even better for your project than the one you originally were considering. This blog has the Bonus of how to use "Word, Excel, Power Point and other Microsoft applications FREE!
I use the Arrange Designs frequently in my business because while I want to use the most appropriate design for a project to sell, I also want to use the one with the least amount of stitches or color changes to minimize my time and effort. This money savings will make me more profitable. I can also arrange my designs by color - Catalog Xpress automatically does this as it reads the colors so I don't have to plug in the information, it is already there. Size is another facet that I can use. After all, a large design on a little girl's pinafore just may not be the right one.
Many software programs can print your designs, but with Catalog Xpress, printing is flexible. You can print any size from a thumbnail to a full page and any where in between. This makes a great method to have the designs when your PC is not working or if you would like someone to see what you have available. It is portable and easy to manage.
Combining Catalog Xpress and Alphabet Xpress. This is really a great way to create a personalized design. With just a touch of a link, you can take your design and add lettering from Alphabet Xpress. This is easier and faster than combining methods. You can see your design and change either the design or lettering with one program.

After giving Catalog Xpress a good look over, I began going over Alphabet Xpress and the great features it has available. Even if you have used Alphabet Xpress for a while, there may just be a tip or two for you to find among these aspects. Even when software has a good tutorial, I have often found that there are elements hidden here and there that are rarely in books. I suppose there is no way for a developer to give every instance of what you may use or need. I love to poke around the drop down menus to see what I can use to my advantage. I hope some of these items will help you make the best and highest use of your Alphabet Xpress Software. And, if you don't have it yet, I really do recommend it!

Buying Fonts is one of the first confusing things that a newbie faces. I know I was so confused on this one that I spent money unnecessarily. Who needs that? This blog is to help us all understand the differences between monogramming and fonts AND a good font vs. a mediocre font. I discuss how creating words, especially sentences and long writing is really best done with software. Adding letters one at a time is time consuming and can be a significant problem. One of the great things about AnnTheGran is that they do put these two software programs on sale from time to time.
This program allows you to REALLY view the stitches. You can almost see the thread fiber molecules themselves. You can see how the stitches lay and you can switch to a different font if the stitching is not to your needs for your project. Some fonts are smoother or more ragged, so this allows you that view before you place one stitch on your fabric.
Fonts can be customized to your hearts content. Take a single letter, word or group of words and make them standout in unusual ways. With AX you can take a single letter out of the middle of a word and make it 5 times the size of the rest of the letters. AX will adjust the spacing and you will have a unique project to be proud of.
Creating a lengthy thought with AX. You can even do something as long as a Paragraph with AX. It does happen that I do hankies for brides and they want to tell someone special just how they feel on their most important day. I created my own messages for brides to their mothers, fathers, father-in-laws and even flower girls. I can change a single word on any of them quickly and easily. Again, one letter at a time would be too time consuming.
My blog called Leather and Lace is one of my favorites. I don't digitize for a number of reasons, one of which is understanding 'Pull Compensation.' Pull compensation is tricky and a really experienced, knowledgeable digitizer can make a fantastic design. However, some digitizers have had this issue, then when you sew out your project and it is not as you expect, you think that you have done something wrong. Not necessarily so. Every software that I have seen for creating designs has what is called a "Recipe." That recipe calls for adjustment to the stitching. For more info on this, read the blog. AX, IMHO, does a good job on this issue.
AX allows you to see stitching and what I call Reverse Engineering. This allows you to see the underlay and how the stitching will be laying. It is great to be able to see a design in its rawest form. You will learn what constitutes a good or bad design. If you are going to put in your time, effort and soul into a project, you want to have the best of the best to create your vision. AX is a great tool to help you know what you are looking at.

In all honesty, as I was putting this blog together, I had to scan over my own information and guess what- - - my review reinforces my recall of all the options for these two great software programs. It helps me to remember that there are features I don't use everyday, but can make good use of from time to time.

If you love embroidery, get the best equipment available to make it a true pride and joy.

A Free Calculator and Reverse Engineering a Design in AlphabetXpress

TheComputerist — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:15:00 GMT

I have never been certain why Microsoft does not place a calculator on a computer screen. There are a number of them on the Internet, and I have one that I like for several reasons. For one, I can turn off or on the keyboard. With the keyboard off, I can just use my computer numeers. You can find it here.

When you first saw machine embroidery, it was probably done by a sales person who just pressed a couple of buttons and made magic! Just like Dorothy, you must be warned not to believe all that you see. The Wizard of Oz can be tricky. The good news is that you can learn all that trickery, alas at the expense of time and effort - OR by reading the Forum and the excellent blogs offered by AnnTheGran.

As each facet of embroidery is mastered, your projects become more and more professional and beautiful. Look back at some of your original attempts (I hope you keep them, they can be very educational!!) and see that you have progressed.

Here are my tips (in no particular order):

Make sure the design fits both your hoop and the project. I have done some items only to find that they were too large or too small for the area.
Color changes can be exorbitant for a design. Keep in mind that more color changes means more detail and vice versa. But if you have to gather 23 colors, including 8 colors of blue, it can be a problem. For one thing, those blue colors may need to blend but not be too close in color. They may need to be highly contrasting and that could be very difficult.
Stitch count can cause issues in that a light fabric with a heavy stitch count can be too heavy for the fabric. It can be too dense and cause what is known as ‘cast iron embroidery.' You have heard your machine sound like it was pounding rather than piecing the fabric. That can be the result of a poorly digitized design or too much stabilizer.
And here is my favorite -

Take a good look at the underlay and the over-all layout of your stitches. You may find that a design is not as great as you may have hoped. It could be skimpy and have the background fabric appear; or it could be too dense and be a sewing nightmare

Starting in Alphabet Xpress, look at the stitching underlay.

The first design I selected did not even have an underlay. It went directly from the writing (which may or may not have underlay) to the eyes.

I selected a second design that does have an underlay and started (lower left corner) to check the stitching of the words.

And I could see that as I move the indicator, the underlay of the first balloon starts as does the second balloon. I am looking to see that the underlay is light and great for the design. Some underlay will be heavier for various digitizing reasons.

I guess thats another reason why I just love Alphabet Xpress.

And, you may have noticed that Catalog Xpress is offering a super deal this week! Check it out! (You can get two free Morango Design Collections. That is Collections which are dozens of exceptional designs, not just a design or two.

A Freebie and Tip #4 Alpha Xpress Customizes Words

TheComputerist — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 22:30:00 GMT

Some days I cannot find my keys, or my glasses or whatever I really need. Too often, I cannot find a file I need and that presents a lot of problems for me. I am always on a schedule and get frustrated with delays! This small application is really worth its weight in gold and then some.

Check out FileSeek. With this app you can search for text matches, folders and sub-solders, match 1 or MORE file patterns, exclude 1 or MORE file patterns and filter results by last modified date. That is one hefty bevy of ways to get your file. I am sure that this was suggested from someone just like me, organized in my own, less than effective manner.

Oh, yes, it is free, they ask for a donation. If you really like the app, consider giving $5 or more to support these types of things.

I really love Alpha Xpress AND, all of the fonts are on sale, and I really love sales!! In my embroidery business, I use it daily and it saves me so much time that I can really do some creative things rather than do the drudgery of putting things together. This blog is about something that I recently did for a friend and felt like I was really smart for making the wording truly unique.

I could not wait to try out my new fonts, I got two this time - Sweet Tweet and Precious. These are truly all purpose fonts because they are easy to read and don't add any embellishment to the design. I want the embroidery to be the star and the lettering to convey my thoughts. Sometimes I want the font to make a statement such as in an ornate monogram, but not with this type of design.

I downloaded my fonts and installed them. If you have questions about the installation, check my blog for the instructions.

I am starting with my Sweet Tweets which is a well defined, well digitized lettering. I was playing with the name itself.

The green square on each letter indicates that that letter can be handled individually. That is where the fun begins. I selected the capital T.

Using the upper left corner, I enlarged just that letter.

Using the green square again, I moved the T into the position of my choice.

Now I am ready to add my design and I select "Merge Stitch File" from the File Menu. That is the best part of the over all design, I just need to have a design to add, and my creation will be ready to sew out.

I love this little bird, and perched him on the S where he can tweet away.

I am having a lot of fun generating something from my vision, that is what embroidery is all about. I enjoy my craft and get that satisfaction for my creative side.

Next, I am using the Precious Font. Precious has a little whimsy but still very clean and excellent lines. For this design, rather than selecting "Text," I selected "Circle." I have been playing with it, and this is going to be a baby announcement with a lot of precious personality.

The Welcome is going to be my top arc. I can make this up as I go along, but I had a circle in mind for the over all design.

I created a second arc and put the name in it. I also selected the "Invert" box.

Using the center cross, I move my arcs into a circular position. Since they have a different number of letters, they are not creating a circle just yet.

Next, I am moving my upper letters to create my circle. I can have it as an oval as well. There are so many options.

Back to my "Merge Stitch File" for my design, a little wiggling her around in the center and - I have a great design. I could add the birth date,, weight and length to the bottom if I like for a wonderful wall hanging for the nursery.

Love it!! On to play more with my Alpha Xpress!!!

BTW - If a few hundred dollars would make a difference in your life, please consider getting my "Embroidery Cost Analysis". My online business is increasing and you can do the same - on or off line.

Safety Information, Free Posters for your school and Catalog Xpress Tip #8, Printing Your Designs

TheComputerist — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:30:00 GMT

We are all trying to be more ‘green' these days, but some things may remain in your home that you are uncertain about. Green means more environmentally safe, but I use some items that I really cannot do without. I want to know exactly what is in those products. It may just change my mind about using them.

This site, produced by the U.S. Department of Human & Health Services, http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/ is just what I need for so much information about everything from Automotive Products to Pesticides.

It does not matter if you have children or pets, we all need to safeguard our health and well being.

With so many schools having financial issues, it is a good thing that there are some places that offer freebies for teachers. This is not limited to teaching either; you can print these up for your home or office.

This site, http://www.poster-street.com/ gives you some fun and motivating posters. There are some for just teenagers, businesses and other categories. You simply print them out. I was thinking that printing them on photo paper will make them very special.

Here is my next Catalog Xpress tip and it is one of those that I have always appreciated about this software.

I do sell my items online. However, I occasionally go to craft fairs, fund raisers and the like and that presents issues with showing the available designs.

Keep notes on issues (your input) - Notes
Search by the usual information AND by Notes - Search
Resize designs - Resize
Convert the format - Conversions
Recolor designs and background colors - Recolor
Categorize designs in multiple subjects (place a design of girl in garden watching a butterfly in multiple categories) - Categories
Arrange designs in multiple methods (Name, Type, Number of Stitches, Colors, Dimensions) - Arrangements
Print the entire catalog of designs in 3D (as small or large as I like)
Work with Alpha Xpress to create wonderful projects.

Having designs at your finger tips can be outstanding for many reasons.

Let's say that you are going to be attending a fund raising event and you are participating by offering a nice pillow for an animal lover.

It is difficult to tell others just how beautiful your designs are and you don't have a photograph of all the designs that you want to offer. You want your idea to look its best and show off what you are capable of doing.

Let's open Catalog Xpress and select Baby. There are 162 items in that folder.

Next, select the File Menu, and Print Catalog.

Next, the software will make a suggestion for printing some pages. In this case, it shows 4 pages with 6 columns and 9 rows.

My designs will look something like this when printed.

That is probably good for showing a prospective client the available designs.

What if I want a reference just for me? I can adjust the number of columns and rows to put it all on one page. What a time saver for me!!!

Even with a lot of designs, you will be surprised at how well you know your designs from just a small thumbnail size picture.

What if I want to take just some designs that meet specific criteria? All I have to do is select the ones I want. Remember that holding down your Ctrl key and using your mouse, click on the ones you want. You can also select a group by holding your Shift key and click on the first design and the last design. Go to the File Menu, select Print Catalog and you will see that the option to ‘Print selected' box is available. Click on that box and change the column and row information to suite your needs.

Customize to your hearts delight. It is a great way to keep info on designs.

If you missed my blog on getting Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and One Note for free, you better check it out! If you are considering selling your embroidery - the holidays are coming fast! - you can now get my spreadsheet without purchasing Excel (about $400 by itself).

Free Taskbar Calendar and Catalog Xpress Tip #3, Resize

TheComputerist — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:45:00 GMT

This is absolutely my favorite computer clock and it includes a calendar!!! I am not happy with a calendar that is on my desktop because it seems like it is always in the way. In the Taskbar (lower right hand corner of most screens) is perfect because it shows me the day of the week, date and hour and minutes. Download it here.

I can arrange the information anyway I like. As a rule, I leave a program at its default settings. There is a good reason for that – it is because if I make a lot of changes, then for any reason the software does not work, I can get a fresh copy from the Internet and use it immediately as is. If it does not look right to me, and I have to figure out all the settings that I used 2 years ago, it is a headache for me. I like to keep it simple – just like Diane Brown always shows us. Her blog is one of the best I have ever seen for just that reason, she does not make my life complicated, she keeps it simple!

A left click gives this month’s calendar, but the right click is even more feature filled.

Select “TClockEx Properties…

Then select “Format Elements” for your specific view options.

As promised, here is the next episode of “Tips on Using Catalog Xpress.”

You can look at tips number 1 and 2 by selecting the links.

1. Keep notes on issues (your input) - Notes

2. Search by the usual information AND by Notes Search

3. Resize designs

4. Convert the format

5. Recolor designs

6. Categorize designs in multiple subjects (place a design of girl in garden watching a butterfly in multiple categories)

7. Allow background colors (view your designs against project color)

8. Arrange designs in multiple methods (Name, Type, Number of Stitches, Colors, Dimensions)

9. Print the entire catalog of designs in 3D (as small or large as I like)

10. Work with Alpha Xpress to create wonderful projects.

Resizing a design is one of the most often requested information in the Forum. We find a design but it won’t fit on our specific project.

I will resize a bunny, and I do make note of several issues.

Notice that there are 15,180 stitches; 8 colors; and the size is 2.45 by 3.87.” I will be making some notes (by selecting “Tools,” and “Design Notes”) about what I am doing, such as change information and the project I was working on for this resizing.

Keep the bunny selected, and press the “resize” button.

You can see the options available. I am going to increase the size to 200% of the current size. When I keep the “Preserve aspect ratio” button selected, it will make a larger replica of my design.

I select my format, and a specific new name (to help me remember what I did) and I am ready to do a “discovery” sew.

Notice that the new design has 44,243 stitches and the size is proportionate to the original at a 200% rate. (I will skip the math.)

When I have done my ‘discovery’ sew on a similar fabric, I will see if the computer has done a good job of adjusting the stitching.

A few cautionary pieces of information:

A programmer has written this software to make the change. They might have an idea of embroidery (or not. . . ) and adjusting the stitching, outlining and other issues of embroidery design can be tricky.
Not all resizing software will change the number of stitches. Some may just adjust the spacing.
Never resize a resized design. No matter who programmed the software, I promise it will go crazy! (Been there, done that. . .) For an additional change, start with the original design. If you find that the 200% is too big, then return to the original to make adjustments.
Make sure you trust the software, and AnnTheGran was the original and oldest software for these types of adjustments.

If you are considering selling your embroidery, don't forget that I have a spreadsheet that will be your guide for determining how much to charge. The proceeds go to Autism needs and research.

Puzzles and Catalog Xpress Tip #1, Notes

TheComputerist — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:30:00 GMT

I recently read somewhere that in order to keep our brain fresh and vibrant, it is important to exercise it the same way that we exercise our body. That exercise includes doing the embroidery we all love, but it can also include games, puzzles, as well as the everyday issues we face. Today’s blog includes all three!

First the fun stuff. You may already be doing the newspaper syndicated puzzle called “Jumble.” Jumble is where there are 4 words with letters mixed up, and with selected letters the fifth word makes a ‘humorous’ statement based on a cartoon.

That same Jumble is available on line. The added benefits are that you can get hints, and in the end, you have an idea how fast or slow you completed the puzzle.

There are at: http://jumble.com/games/info/13 There are a few ads, but the games are quick and usually easy. Most of them won’t take you more than 2 or 3 minutes. I find that when I am overwhelmed by the issue of the day (or hour), 2 or 3 minutes of distraction can be really helpful.

You can even do puzzles from the past. That link is in the lower left corner.

There are multiple other games to play. I have been doing the daily puzzle and Jumble Solitaire for a long time. I tried the Jumble Crossword, and it was fun too.

I am in the process of rearranging my designs. Catalog Xpress helps me control my designs. As The Avid Embroiderer, I have mentioned that I buy my designs partly for the artistry and beauty of a design. Therefore, my collection means more to me than just a group of designs. Like a coin or stamp collector, I need a method to keep them organized.

On to the best features of Catalog Xpress that you have not yet used! This is going to be a series, because there are so many of them, I cannot cover them in one or two blogs. Here are just a few, and if there is something you want to know about Catalog Xpress, please feel free to let me know via a response on this blog. I want to help you get the “Best and Highest Use” from your Catalog Express Software.

Notes
Icons
Categories and Subcategories
Print Catalog
Backup
Resize

The first tip is to utilize the Notes feature.

Notes may be the single most under used feature in Catalog Xpress.

The example is a monogram and I always make my notes in the “A” character. That practice helps me remember the individuality (see how polite I am today?) of each monogram.

On other designs, such as animals, I might put things like coloration issues or for whom I created that project/design. There is much to say about designs, and remembering each is not needed.

One reason I need to be more organized and utilize the notes is that I do sell my embroidery. If you are considering doing the same, check out my "PC Tips and Tricks" that has many general computer tips to make your work more efficient. You may also be interested in my "How Much to Charge" information. It shows you how to determine how to make your embroidery pay you correctly.

Thank you for reading my blog!