Vector art programs

[Just Sew It]

This is going to be a big learning curve for me! I need to invest in and learn a graphics art program: CorelDraw or Adobe Illustrator.
Going to get an Ioline or Roland cutter and a heat press. Please give me some opinions and feed back on experience with the above equipment.
Thanks!

[signman]

Hear me now and listen to me later...lol....
I've been doing screenprinting and vinyl cutting 25 years...
unfortunately my 'favorite' program doesn't exist anymore. So, based on what my clients use-I'd have to recommend CorelDraw if you've never used a graphic program, Illustrator CS3 (newest one) if you are ready for top end graphic program.
For a plotter-go with a Roland-because most likely you will eventually want to upgrade to digital printing/cutting and that would also be a Roland Versacamm so you'd be ready for it.
Heatpress....Stahls (Mighty Press), HotTronix, or buy direct from the mfg.- Geo Knight Company in Mass. Get a larger press than you need-because you'll need it soon! Stay away from 'small job' portable one. For hats, get the hatpress WITH the drop down 'teflon sleeve' that holds the decal in place. Saves burnt fingers.
Then, and this will save you a fortune-GO TO A TRADE SHOW and check out machines IN USE, and you can make sure of what you want, also you can get 'package deals' from suppliers with everything at once, discounted, etc. and easy financing.

[Just Sew It]

Never used a graphic program before so what is I go with CorelDraw? How is the best way to buy it? Web or show?
Didn't yo say you coule cut and paste into DS from your Adobe ILLustrator???

[signman]

I didn't realize until someone posted last month (Jeff I think) that Designshop and Illustrator were compatible. So just as a test I took an image from illustrator (Mac) and brought it to my DS (v6)
and boing...right into it with ease! So yes, they are compatible. You will have to have the PC version of Illustrator-I run Mac-to do the 'cut and paste' though.
Illustrator is NOT cheap-so most computer suppliers (Zone, Signwarehouse, CDW, etc.) will have 'special' prices, probably the same at shows. Be warned...it isn't an easy program. Took me awhile to run DS, and I've been running other programs for 20 years-and I STILL can't figure out illustrator!

[Jeff]

I may have been the one who posted about Adobe Illustrator and that Design Shop is optimized to work with Adobe Illustrator more than Corel Draw. They are both excellent programs, but if you have to learn one of them, then it may make more sense to go with Adobe. Adobe has excellent help and tutorials available as well.

Saved EPS files from Design Shop that are of designs that have stitches in them will have stitch data saved in the EPS file. When the same EPS file is re-opened in DS, even if edits had been done to it in Adobe, the EPS file including the Edits will open with the stitch data in DS. This does work the same with files from Corel. The Cut and Paste is optimized between the 2 programs to work the same way. Adobe has an excellent Trace function for working with Bit Mapped files and converting them to Vector. I have tested trace files from both Corel and Adobe CS2 and feel Adobe CS2 works better. As long as you are starting from scratch in the learning process, starting with what your digitizing program is the most friendly with makes more sense.

The other thing is do not feel you have to start making complex vector files right off the bat either. There are on-line companies that will supply vector files and do vector work for you very reasonably.

Jeff Banks

[Just Sew It]

Can anyone tell me about the import stitch program in CorelDraw and is it worth $400??

[Jeff]

I think it allows the importing of pes, dst, and other embroidery file formats into DRAWings. DRAWings is a Auto Digitizing Program that works with Corel Draw. You would have to have the DRAWings program first, then buy the Import Stitch Option to add to it.

If you already have Design Shop Pro+, you already have a Auto-Digitizing program, and of which I feel is better that Corel DRAWings, but as I work for Melco, I am prejudice. [img]smile.gif[/img] This would all be redundant to you and a duplication of programs and waste of money.

Jeff Banks

[oldkush]

I agree with Jeff [and I don't work for Melco]. For those who care about the quality of their designs, DesignShop would be a better choice than DRAWings.

Although I guess those that are already proficient in CorelDraw may feel more comfortable with DRAWings ???

Bob

[Just Sew It]

Thank you, everyone, for your help! I have enough information to make some decisions and will take it to the ISS show in Ft Worth in October. In the meantime, I need to beef up my computers and dedicate one to the Amayas and OS.
I printed out some posts on computer RAM and video to forward to my computer tech.I MAY GET THIS PULLED INTO SHAPE!
tHANKS AGAIN!

[Pure Embroidery]

Just one more plug for Illustrator. I had a hard time learning the program until I invested in some training CD's. Now it has become much easier. I've never used CorelDraw, and in my opinion Adobe products are generally the industry standard and more capable programs.

If you think that you are going to Autodigitize designs with accuracy, clarity, and efficiency, you are misinformed. Autodigitizing has it's place and it's great to get started in the digitizing realm, but don't think a year from now you will be using it. As your desings get more complex and sewing efficiency becomes more important, you will all but abandon autodigitizing. Don't waste the money on it. Use that money to contract some desings and then pick those designs apart in DesignShop and learn from it. Best of luck to you.

[Digital Stitchz / LaserWorkz]

I discussed autodigitizing with my wife and I have to disagree. Autodigitizing has its place; that is like saying using Melco fonts is the easy way out and all lettering should be manually digitized. I do go back to a time when all lettering was done manually. As for autodigitizing if you are creating applique or simple straight forward vector designs, autodigitizing saves time and with the ability to adjust densities & stitches that give you good looking, non-thread breaking embroidery.

[Pure Embroidery]

I agree with you on using the auto-dizitize features for the simple things and most lettering. I really didn't think about the lettering being an "autodigitized" function but it is.

My business focuses in two areas; military designs and armaments which are complex, multi layered designs and wildlife designs, also extremely detailed and complex. These kinds of designs would be extremely difficult to autodigitize accurately.

I'm not sure how everyone else progressed in their business, but I jumped in head first and forced myself to learn digitizing in a kind of trial-by-fire methodology. In just a few months I thought I had it licked, and now two years later I'm still learning new "tricks" to save stiches and improve the design quality. I just don't believe there is any substitute for learning the basics of digitizing.

[oldkush]

Couldn't agree more .... learning and understanding digitizing / embroidery basics is the key to creating quality designs.

Digitizing is not a "click a few buttons and you are done" process. Instead, it has a steep learning curve and no software feature or function [including auto-digitizing]can replace a digitizers knowledge, experience and skill.

For some, auto-digitizing will have a place but it is important to know its limitations ..... and this takes a good understanding of embroidery basics.

Bob