craftaddict

I am the owner of a bernina 430 and love it. I think I might be able to buy an embroidery unit for it at a good price and am now thinking of what kind of files I could use on it. I do have artlink 6 already installed on my computer but no idea how to use it yet. I think there will be a cd and dongle coming with the unit but was wondering if I could make my own files without buying expensive software. I know how to draw on the computer in inkscape for example but is there a program that will convert a drawing to a file the bernina can read ?

thanks in advance,
Joanne

alleyoop1

The only thing I have found that I can create my own "drawing" and stitch it out on my Bernina 440 (same as 430) is The Cut Work Tool - which is not part of a design package. I have downloaded free embroidery from Embroidery Library and other sites and stitched them out and I have purchased cd's at my LQS to use as well. I don't have Artlink 6 - I have an old version of embroidery software that came with my machine 6 years ago and I have The Cut Work Tool and I have also downloaded the free embroidery software from the Bernina site. It's called ArtLink. Hope this helps. If you have more questions contact your local Bernina store - they probably have classes you can take.

mermaid

You are talking about a program to digitize your art designs. Yes there are several software programs that are free, for you to digitize your own designs. One that I know of is at
http://sophiesew.com/SS2/the-software/ and teaching videos at
http://sophiesew.com/SS2/portfolio/s...n-1-tutorials/

another is http://www.thredworks.com/index.php and there are classes on line. There is another free software for digitizing from Bernina, which I seem to have lost the site for---possibly in my laptop. So you might want to look at these and see if it is what you need.

PaperPrincess

You need an application that will digitize your drawings. There are applications that will auto fill artwork, but the results are too blocky looking for me. One that I've seen is from Buzz Tools.
Good digitizers hand place each and every stitch, resulting in subtly shaded designs. I looked into learning this art but the time it would take to learn the software, let alone the hours and hours needed to create a design were daunting.

The auto fill apps are hundreds of dollars, the better digitizing tools can run thousands. For that much money, I'd rather just buy my professionally digitized designs! My favorite site is:

http://www.emblibrary.com/EL/default.aspx

Just my opinion...

QuiltnNan

http://www.artistitch.com/

i have had pre-design for years. it's a wonderful program in which you create your drawings in vector form. they do not need thinning and 'fixing' when converting to embroidery designs. it's worth every penny

craftaddict

thanks to all or you for suggestions. I was looking at simple drawings on the bernina website and they were $25 each. I am not willing to pay that much, especially that my own drawings (digial ones on the computer, now hand drawn) are just as nice. So I really think what I need is a program that would just convert my drawings to something the machine can embroider. I would like the proper bernina software but can't afford it..........

craftaddict

I have just been looking at their website and predesign looks great. But it looked like I would also need their main program art and stitch ? And that one is very expensive. Can you tell me how you use yours ?

XX Joanne

QuiltnNan

i draw my original work right in Pre Design. then it goes right to my emb program... i have brother, though

PaperPrincess

$25!!! Holy Cow! Embroidery Library always has sales going. This week it's Christmas designs for $1.25 http://www.emblibrary.com/el/Sale.aspx