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How to Evaluate Embroidery (Digitizing) Software ? |
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v Will the software generate high quality stitches?
Look for features such as automatic gap line overlapping, automatic underlay grid adjustment, corner compensation, satin corner stitch adjustment, stitch density adjustment as the satin width decreases, small stitch control, etc. These are some of the important considerations in determining the quality the embroidery produced.
It maybe difficult to see those stitch quality controls on the screen as they are usually imbedded in the stitch generation engine. Therefore, a software DEMO, without being able to export the design for a sew-off test, may not reveal the true story of how good the snitch engine is.
v How easily can I create a logo with the software?
Ensure the software includes important and useful features such as Special Tools and Automation that will make a complicated job simpler.
Digitizing turnaround is critical to an embroidery service and will also directly affect your costs – Labor and Time. Good digitizing software should have enough automation or special tools to speed up the digitizing process for most general logos, and still allow the digitizer to customize special effects.
v How long will it take to learn to use the software efficiently?
Features such as user-friendly interfaces and self-obvious functions are should be investigated. Also, ensure that proper training materials are included or easily available.
An un-user-friendly software often drives a digitizer into frustration and stress during digitizing.
v How easily can I get support, if I have any problems?
Confirm that telephone, email support, web support are all available at times convenient to you and that are easy to access.
Good software doesn’t guarantee a good digitizer, especially for a new user. Direct telephone support is preferable during regular business hours or even weekends. It takes a while for a new digitizer to get experience on embroidery settings such as underlay, density, compensation for a specific material and special techniques like 3D and Appliqué digitizing. Some software companies may provide this kind of training or support for an extra charge.
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| What is OLE-2 technology? |
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Microsoft OLE-2 (Object Linking and Embedding, version 2) is a suite of technologies whose purpose is to enable open integration of application software. OLE Automation allows an application system to be controlled by another program; that is, one program can ask an OLE Automation object to perform a function, and another program performs that function.
In Wings’ XP®, OLE-2 allows integration of the drawing tools from CorelDRAW® into its Digitizing. In other words, the user can import an artwork that is created or opened in CorelDRAW® into Wings’ XP Design Window for accurate vector based-digitizing, or even auto trace. Moreover, any modification made to the artwork in CorelDRAW® will be updated in real time in Wings’ XP.
The advantage of OLE-2 is that a user can utilize all of the powerful tools in CorelDRAW® to enhance high quality digitizing in Wings’ XP, or convert artwork easily to embroidery files.
Other advantages include the ability to export accurate vector artworks for a cutting equipment or for screen-printing in addition to embroidery, while maintaining the consistency and integrity of of these files.
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In-house Digitizing vs. Contracting out ? |
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1) The Advantages and Disadvantages of in-house Digitizing:
Fast Service Response to Customer Orders
Quality control in-hand for Designs
Fix Stitch problems right away if appears
Maintain Outline design files for easy editing in future
Potential to make good money by providing service to industry
Potential to attract more business due to good quality and fast service
May need initial capital investment for a good software and hardware.
May find not enough time for digitizing by him/his self
May get frustrated if digitizing with inefficient software.
May find it more costly to digitizing with a poor software
2) The Advantages and Disadvantages of contracting out digitizing:
More cost effective if embroidery business is relatively small in volume.
Free from digitizing process and graphic preparation
Rely on other digitizing company for embroidery service
May take costly risks due to a small neglect ion in the process of coordinating the digitizing service and customer's expectation.
May loss potential customers if fail to delivery on time.
May actually spend more time and labor than own digitizing by communicating with customer and digitizer back and forth in order to get a job done correctly.
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Buy Machine with Software in one package vs. Shop them separately ? |
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There is no "yes or no" answer for this question, the import thing that the user should evaluate the machine and software separately no matter whether or not buy a complete package from one company or different dealers.
Some customers may believe that to buy a machine and software package together from one dealer would get better chance of discount, or be convenient for future support as most sellers would also say so. This is not always true.
The users should always find out the costs separately and check out if the software features meet their needs.
It is a common mistake that users will usually pay more attention on a machine than the software at the initial stage of purchasing research, without realize that a machine would only run at a set speed to output limited production, while an inefficient software will constantly take way a large amount of their time during a design digitizing or editing process, and even cause frequent frustration to the users. Therefore a good discounted package can end up being a very expensive one on a total production cost perspective.
A good embroidery software out there in the market may not necessary be bounded with any specific brand of machines or through machine dealership channels. It usually has a separate sales and support center in order to service customers with different types of machines.
To obtain a basic understand of what a good embroidery software should be would help the process of making right purchase decision.
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Understand Software Brand, Levels and Version. |
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An embroidery software is usually recognized by Brand , Levels and Version, a new user should check with the software dealer for the most currently software versions in the market, and find out which level of the software would need his/her embroidery needs. For example, Wings' XP is the software product or brand name, the Levels can be Text, Operator or Puncher, currently version is 1.50. Some Machine dealers who carry software that may not be more up to date version of the software. |
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Understand software licensing and Ownership. |
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When a user buys software, he/she only owe the legal use of the software. The ownership of the software always belongs to the software manufacturer.
Embroidery software usually comes with a Security Key or Dongle in the form of either Parallel Port (Printing port) or USB connection.
A security key is a device used to avoid illegal copy and use of the software, the key controls the software level and sometime also the version.
A security key can be programmed to have a temporary validation which is a short term licensing for using the software (It is also called a time-locked key). It is often used in the situation of software trial, term payments, renting or leasing purchase, in these case, the user is not totally own the software.
A time-locked key will remind user to update when it gets close to expiration. The user should contact the dealer immediately for update. When the time-lock is expired, all the software functions are locked out when it is opened.
Once a key is unlocked, it means the user owns the permanent licensing of the software usage.
A software with a temporary licensing is usually not transferable, permanent licensing software can be resell; some software company may change an ownership transference fee.
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Understand Digitizing Concepts. |
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An understanding of some essential digitizing concepts will help identify good embroidery software. For examples:
What stitch types can the software create: Running, Satin, Satin Serial, Fill, Piping etc.?
What are Stitch Files and Outline Files?
What is Underlay and Compensation?
What is Density and Stitch length?
What is Lock stitch and Short-Long Stitches?
What are shortest connections?
What is branching?
What is Color Blending- Gradient Effects?
What are Patterns and Styles?
What is Graphic software and Digitizing software Integration?
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Research Copyright 2003, All rights reserved. Wings Digitizing Center
Copyright of eXPerience (Wings’ XP) software belongs to Wings Systems Ltd.
© 2001-2003 Wings Systems Ltd.
eXPerience and Wings’ XP name and logo are registered trademarks of Wings Systems Ltd. |
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