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This was an unscientific survey taken at this website between Sunday Febuary 6, 2000 and Tuesday, June 6, 2000. Publicity for this survey was done through the BBD, PC-Brother and Singer XL-1000 email lists. I am a member of all 3 lists. Also anyone that surfed to my site was welcomed to participate.Embroidery Survey ResultsFirst of all, I would like to thank every participant in the survey. Without your response this survey would not have been possible. A number of you responded listing what I would call accessory programs (i.e. Buzz Tools, Embird, Resize Plus, Smart Sizer, etc). I appreciate these responses but for the survey I was mainly interested in what I call the core programs (those listed below) since without these programs, the accessory programs are useless.
The following are the metrics of the survey. The survey consisted of 3 questions:
I own the following embroidery software.
Please input what you like best about each of your embroidery software packages.
If you could only have one of your embroidery digitizing programs, which one would it be?Number of Respondents: 107
Software Packages I Own
* Triplets refers to the 3 digitizing programs marketed by Brother Industries as Brother PE-Design, Babylock Palette, and Bernina Deco-Wiz.
Triplets* 95 Singer PSW 21 Pfaff PC-Designer 21 Viking Various 18 Bernina Artista 24 Janome Digitizer 2000 9 Pulse 1 Singer EU 3 Stitch Shop Pro 1 Pantogram 1 Final Choice
Program NO. % of resondents Triplets 56 52 Singer PSW 13 12.1 Pfaff PC-Designer 0 0 Viking (various) 5 4.6 Bernina Artista 13 12.1 Janome Digitizer 2000 5 4.6 Stitch Shop Pro 1 .01 NO VOTE 17 15.8 Several respondents owned more than one core digitizing package. It is interesting to note how many owners of a particular package stuck with it as a final choice:
Package # Owners % Final Choice Triplet 95 58.9 Singer PSW 21 61.9 Pfaff PC-Designer 21 0 Viking (various) 18 27.7 Bernina Artista 24 54.2 Janome Digitizer 2000 5 55.5 Pulse 1 0 Singer EU 3 0 Stitch Shop Pro 1 100 Pantogram 1 0 Observations
Many of the respondents own several core programs and combine the features that work best for them in each of the programs to achieve the desired results in their designs. Because of this cross-usage, some had difficulty making a final choice and therefore indicated no response. This is quite understandable. I admit for myself that between the 2 programs that I have (one I know extremely well and the other I am beginning to know and am quite impressed by it) I believe I would have a difficult time making a final choice. The reason I asked this difficult question was from the assumption that a person who is researching the different programs has limited funds and can only afford one core program. Put in their shoes, I would want to know which programs people feel they would not want to do without.
The number one complaint among respondents was that they received very little if any dealer support in learning their program. The Triplets seemed to offer the most educational support with various private individuals offering books on digitizing in the software along with 2 CD Tutorials. Triplet owners seem to enjoy the greatest access to Embroidery Retreats throughout the USA and even abroad.
The number one praise among Triplet owners was the ease of use of the software (short learning curve). Janome Digitizer 2000 owners also share this view of their software. Janome is the new kid on the block - having been released in late 1999.
Singer PSW owners note that the PSW has a much longer learning curve but many stand by the PSW because of it's commercial background. The PSW is an older Compucon verstion that is no longer distributed by Compucon ( a Greek owned commercial digitizing software company). PSW (Professional Sew-Ware) owners enjoy a very powerful program.
Bernina Artista Designer owners feel that their software is also easy to use and like the editing features and lettering.
There are many sub programs to the Viking software that you can pick and choose what you want. However, if you want to go all the way in the Viking program, you would want to look at the Viking Embroidery Pro 5, which encompasses all their programs. Those respondents that chose the Viking program(s) noted that they liked it for "serious" digitizng and liked the editing features.
While no one chose the Pfaff PC-Designer as a final choice, many did note that they especially like the editing features and would bring designs into PC-Designer to edit and then send back to their other core digitizing program.
If you are in the process of searching for a digitizing program, I encourage you to try out as many as possible. Support is the number one key feature when looking for any software package. If you can't learn the program, it doesn't matter how good it is - it is still useless to you. Find out if your dealer can offer educational support either directly in his/her store or indirectly through an independent educator. Many of the programs are capable of acheiving the same results - however they all go about it slightly differently. To find out more about each of these programs check out the manufacturers web sites:
Brother Babylock Bernina Janome Pfaff Singer Viking
Also, to see what actual users are saying about their software you may want to take some time to research by joining a number e-mail lits. The Quiltropolis site offers a wide range of e-mail lists for all the major home embroidery manufacturers. Be a lurker as you see what these lists are about. See what kind of questions people are asking about their software and what problems they have with their machines. On these lists you will find many newbies as well as experienced people offering their help. For many people this seems to be their only source of help. If you decide to join one or more lists be prepared to receive lots of e-mail.
Tips When Purchasing Embroidery Software
1. Make sure you have a dealer with some type of local support. Whether they offer it in store by one of their staff or through an independent educator.
2. Make sure the software does what you have in mind that you want to do. Don't limit yourself. Get a pacakage that will allow you to grow in your digitizing abilities.
3. Decide what is most important to you. Make a list to take with you on your search.
4. Are there other means of support that you can find for your software?
- Ease of use - Is the learning curve for most people short or long? Are you able to read books and follow directions. Most people agree that the manuals that come with the software are poorly written. Why? Well because the manuals are written by people who wrote the software program - that does not mean they actually use the software program.
- Do you mainly intend to do editing of other's designs or is your desire to get into heavy digitizing?
5. Are there any known problems or complaints about the software? How are users able to get around them and are the manufacturers working on the fixes to the problems. Is there a package that a lot of people decide to go with? Other's opinions are helpful but not all important. What is important is YOUR comfort level with the package.
- Internet mail groups
- Retreats
- Seminars
- Embroidery Clubs
6. Have dealer demonstrate package. Don't be surprised if they are not all that comfortable either. At least see if dealer will let you play with the package (in store) before purchase. If dealer doesn't really know the package either, does he at least have someone that does know the package that gives lessons?
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