The Bobbin Buzz & Stitchin' Bits

I use embird. I did a free trial for both embird and buzz explore and found I liked embird best.

although I do use a buzz product (buzz size and buzz edit) for resizing and color changes.

I use Embird and I love it. I know Embird isn't Holly's favorite but I love it and have no problems understanding how this software works. Works for me .

Hi Susan - I like Embird too. It's one of the few programs that I use. Holly uses Designers Gallery because for the things she does (especially color-sorting) it's the best program she can find.

-- Larry

I am looking for a good unzip program. I have the V5 Artista software which has Portfolio, that they say can change formates but I am not sure how to use it?

I also have Buzz Tool, & Buzz Tools Plus, I can not view art files.

What should I buy now to view the Art files?

K

Hi K - The Artista program will view ART files. I have a video coming out shortly (next couple days) that will show how to convert designs using 10 different programs - AND - what I like or dislike about each one. Portfoilio is a great program once you can find your way around in it.

-- Larry

I have also been using Embird (Manager and Iconizer) for the past few years. Now that I know my way around, I have been using it for other things, too. I can sort colrs, resize, convert formats, and combine designs. It is especially useful for copying designs into one hoop when

I'm making things for the Smiles for Children project (www.smilesforchildrenproject.com). I then color sort and am then able to stitch out the dolls, clothes, etc. so much faster. At this point I see no need to digitize since there are so many great digitizers out there, but maybe in the future I will purchase the digitizing plug-in if the desire hits.

I use Embird for most of my conversions, but I use Wilcome also. I prefer Embird, because I can convert a whole folder at one time. Also, with Embird I can convert a PES 5 or 6 to my version 3 in the same way.....I love Embird, best progam available for the best price.

I use Designers Gallery. Several years ago I tried Buzz tools, but I couldn't figure it out. Maybe because I was new to machine embroidery!

I use Designers Gallery, love it for converting, resizing, sorting, previewing etc. I also use Letterworks, SizeWorks, Colorworks that is all compatible with Designers Gallery. I can view all formats and convert them to PES...but the best cheapie software for viewing designs is the SEWIconz. You can view it in Windows without having to pull up other specialized software.

I dont have a favorite, ...But I would like to know if anyone else knows if there is a soft ware program that will convert ( CSD ) and or ( CND ) formatted designs ? thanks for listening! N.W.

Hi Nancy -- Wilcom Embroidery "Truesizer" will convert a design to CSD. It's a free program available at the Wilcom website. -- Larry

I use the Bernina Artista program and it works great to convert any design to .ART. Buzz Tools will read Artista files but they had to be in V.3 Artista (version 3) when I was using it. I have an older version which did not read V.4 but now that Artista V.5 is out, I would hope that the new Buzz Tools would at least read V.4. If you are doing designs in V.5 you might try converting them to V.4 if you have a new version of Buzz Tools. I use the Artista program to create all kinds of custom designs so converting designs from other formats is just part of the whole cool package. All I do is open the file and it automatically converts it to .ART. Then I save it as .ART and I have it in that format forever.

I tried Embird for sizing stitch files last May right after I bought my laptop, but it didn't seem to be compatible with Vista. :-( Converting from one format to another isn't a problem for me; I have Pulse DG/ML which seems to read more different formats than I've ever heard of! I've gotten a few odd formats from time to time, but nothing that I couldn't open and output to my machine.

I've heard about the Iconizer, though, and that would be very useful. Is that in Embird? If so, I'll have to try them again. Is there anything else out there similar?

Hi Cat -- I've used Pulse DG/ML too.

According to the folks at Embird -- Embird 2006 and its plug-ins work with Windows Vista 32-bit edition and except Iconizer plug-in and Ultimate Box+ menu" for 64-bit edition of Windows Vista. So if you have their newest version of Embird, you should be able to use it on your Vista computer.

However -- there are still people that report problems with the installation. And while tech support from Embird is available via email for free, it seems like they translate your question from English to another language using automated translation software, answer your question in their native language, then translate it back using automated translation software. I don't know that for a fact - just a hunch based on the quality of tech support responses I've received when trying to get help with Embird.

The end result is that I've gone back and forth with them for days trying to resolve a problem. And it takes days because when you send an email from here during the daytime, it's nightime there and they answer it the next day - which is still nightime here, and you re-ask during the day... and so on.

It's a very good program if it works right for you. Tech support is their weakest link.

-- Larry

I use Embird -- LOVE it! Does anyting I need... so far!

I have to agree with Holly. I too like my Designers Gallery. It is just so simple. I haven't found anything that I can't really do with it. I have a good friend that uses Embird and you couldn't get her to use anything else. Guess it;s what you get used to.

I use BuzzExplore and absolutely love it. It accepts all file formats I have accumulated over 10 years of collecting. Therefore, I can stitch on any of my embroidery machines. It is very easy to use and quite powerful.