Since I am not a digitizer, I don't know much about this particular technique called photo-stitch. But I do know what I like and this is terrific (IMHO).
Photo-stitch technique creates a dimension in embroidery that has the appearance of sketching. It is often used in art or photos to give an ‘impressionist' effect. Here is an example:
(This photo courtesy of Advanced-Embroidery-Designs)
You recognize this as a Van Gogh, Twelve Sunflowers in a Vase. It is difficult to see in a photo, but this stitch intensive design is magnificent in person. With nearly 100,000 stitches, you will want to have time to accomplish the project. You also need to adjust your stabilizer for this design. If you would normally put a single sheet of medium cutaway, I suggest you use two or a single piece of heavy cutaway.
If, as you are embroidering, you feel the need to increase your stabilizer, don't forget that you can float a piece under your hoop. I also used an evenly woven, medium weight linen for this design. It needs to be stable.
Next, I want to show you the colors for the design. There are 15 different colors.
Catalog Xpress shows every detail I need, including the colors. Notice that the colors are very close in their hue, so selecting your thread is really important. The colors do blend, and some do not have a lot of difference, but when you are doing something that is subtle like this, make sure you can color accurately.
This is an example of an autumn palette and I do like to purchase the ‘sets' that AnnTheGran has on sale right now. The manufacturers work with artists who study coloration to arrange the colors, so you can feel good about the blending of threads.
This digitizer does give detailed instructions for working with this format. I am just covering some of the information. The stitching is in much more linear than other designs and often overlapping. That is what gives it its unique appearance.
Each layer builds upon the last. Switching colors to save thread changes will not effectively work for this process.
Shading and other subtle changes make this interesting to watch as it sews.
Give this one a try!