Pantovision
 

I recently saw an Innova longarm with pantovision. Anyone have insight about this product? Is it compatible with other makes and models? It seems a economical alternative to computerized programs. Thank you in advance

Lilli, I believe it is only available for the Innova. I love my Innova! I would suggest trying it out. It is not computer driven. It is an alternative to a paper pantograph. The paper sits on the back of the frame- not easy to see the quilt (tucks, thread breaks, issues). With Pantovision, you stand on the needle side to hand guide the quilt. It is easier to see what you are quilting.

Pantovision will run on other machines. Contact an Innova dealer to find out if it will run on yours.

I am looking at a Pantovision program that someone is selling for $900 which seems like a very good price. It doesn't have the latest T2 update on it. I don't know enough about it to ask the right questions. Any opinions or suggestions?

I have panto vision. You can change sizes, combine patterns and more. I am not upgrading to the T2 because of cost.

is it somewhat like the Elevate is for Gammill? A lower cost entry into robotic driven that allows you to download designs, resize,etc, but not design from scratch?

It is basically an "e" panto. The quilting is still hand guided, there are no belts or robotics on the machine head. An IPad type screen is mounted to the front of the machine head. It displays your panto, which you can resize, and there is a dot icon that represents needle. You then "follow" the pattern on the screen using the dot (as opposed to the laser light on a traditional panto). the dot moves as you move the machine head and you stitch out the design.

feline fanatic, is it as easy to follow as the laser light is following a paper pattern?

I haven't actually done it, I have only seen it demoed and because I don't do Pantos very much I had no desire to try it out myself. So I stick with paper pantos working behind the machine. I don't find it that inconvenient. I know the sounds of my machine so well, I can tell right away if I have run out of bobbin or broke the top thread. And I do check regularly as well. Any given row of panto quilting I pause at least twice to visually check the top. 90% of my quilting is custom and done from the front anyway.

I tried the pantovision at a show and really liked it. The plus for me was not having to look down so much - easier on my neck. I may get it when I get my LA.

I've been practicing with my Pantovision and I think I'm going to like it! It takes some finagling with the software to get it right -- I've got to learn to place my rows closer together, but I'm impressed with what I've done so far. Baby steps.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I recently took an Innova certification class and part of the class was quilting using the traditional pantograph method. I really didn't enjoy the process. I'm not sure if it was because I was just learning, but there was a lot of going back and forth from the back of machine to the front to make sure the stitching would line up properly from row to row. This may not be such a big deal when one is experienced, as feline fanatic states, but I know myself well enough at this point in my life and that's a "chore" I would not want to do. I'm also not great at following lines - never did color inside the lines very well. lol For me it was too monotonous. I do love free motion quilting so I'll be putting most of my efforts into that when I get my machine. Still, the pantovision would be useful at times - I'll keep it on my "maybe" list.