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Forums > Embroidery Software > Wilcom ES
Subject: Learning curve for Origins to Wilcom

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supercapes User is Offline
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02/02/2007 7:42 AM Alert 

Hi -

This is a question for Onrie, or anyone else with such experience.  In Onrie's post on the "why so expensive" topic, you said you went from Palette to Origins to Wilcom.

I currently have Origins, and have been generally happy with the product.  It auto-digitizes, utilizes true-type fonts, has the ability to create various fills, outlines, underlays, etc, can edit down to the stitch level, and lots of other things mentioned about "professional" digitizing software.  But it won't get any more upgrades, and is kind of clunky and slow to use.  So I'm looking at either upgrading to Masterworks, which I believe is much like Origins except more friendly (still waiting for my trial cd to arrive).  Or something like Wilcom.  Of course, the price difference is tremendous! 

What were your experiences going from Origins to Wilcom?  How steep was the learning curve?  What about the conversion of all my .asd files into .emb files? 

mylittlemiller User is Offline
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02/02/2007 11:11 PM Alert 
Personally I found the learning curve quite easy. I am used to programs like corel. The free training online certainly helped! Wilcom also comes with a training cd but to be honest I didn't really need that after the online training. But good to have as a reference.
Onrie User is Offline
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02/03/2007 2:51 AM Alert 
Origins is a good program. I found the auto-digitizing to be only as good as the artwork. Origins can see those pixels that the eye can't see and it creates stitches for all the different shades of color. Wilcom also has auto-digitizing. I have found it better to digitize my designs myself. The auto-digitized designs usually have to be edited to my satifaction. The time it takes to edit can be used to do it myself in the first place. As far as the cost, yes Wilcom is pricey but if you are going to compete, you need the best and I have found it to be the best. I bought Wilcom in levels. The more levels, the more tools. If you buy all levels in the beginning, there is a lot to learn. I have had all the levels for about 2 years now and I am still learning. A lot of that has to do with old habits are hard to break.
Onrie
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02/03/2007 3:24 AM Alert 
So the auto-digitizing in Wilcom is no better - picks up all those little pixelized things?

What about the .asd to .emb problem? Will I have to recreate all the hundreds of designs I have now if I want to edit them in Wilcom?
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02/03/2007 11:32 AM Alert 
I don't like any auto-digitizing programs. I think they are for people who really don't care about the quality of embroidery. A machine is never as good as the creative mind!

Wilcom does an ok job at reducing colors. You can tell it how many colors you want and it will only create those. I don't get any small stitches of silly colors very often, but again I don't really use it. I am like Onrie - I would always digitize it using the wilcom tools are you are guaranteed a good sew out.

I have seen drawings, generations and wilcom auto digitizing. I think Wilcom is just as good, if not better than the others. and they don't make a huge fuss about it like the others which is all they claim they do good at perfectly (and dont).
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02/04/2007 1:48 PM Alert 
I currently use Master Works and like it, BUT...after seeing a very brief demo of Wilcom at an ISS Show recently, I am convinced that I am missing out on even greater digitizing and stitch output potential by continuing to use Master Works. I am frustrated by the lack of training or support for advanced training with Master Works. I basically self-taught myself through many, many long days and nights, and many designs. Lettering is good but not fantastic. I've seen product out there with great lettering and I cannot acheive it yet with Masterwork. Albeit, I am a newbie and realize that with time and experience there stands room for improvement, but at what REAL cost, is the important question. I appreciate all the informative posts and thank you all for the valuable insight and input.
planet_embroidery User is Offline
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02/06/2007 12:23 AM Alert 
Auto Digitizing Programs
This is definitely a topic deserving a thread all of its own...
But I agree with you totally...
Experienced users generally dont go there...

But it has its place... its like a little worm on the hook for the novice user.....

I think that this trend over the last couple of years where we saw every-one introducing auto punching functionality ETC....
Was mainly aimed at newbie users...
Who obviously don't as yet have the skills and experience to realize its limitations, and also perhaps the confidence to tackle punching proper.
 
But if it does give them a taste for digitizing they will hopefully explore their embroidery software more comprehensively once they get down the road a little.

And I think once one company had it...
All the rest could not afford the luxury of ignoring the hype surrounding it.

So its here to stay...

But having said that, I should add that auto punching is in its infancy and you should expect it to evolve and eventually transform mainstream punching techniques in more and more advanced ways in the future.
David Hewitt (Digitizer/Director)
Planet Embroidery (Australia)

web: http://www.planetembroidery.com.au/
email:digitizing@planetembroidery.com.au
Onrie User is Offline
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02/06/2007 3:02 AM Alert 
I agree with David. My wife and I started the learning curve about 6 years ago. I was working as Firefighter and she was at home on disability after a liver transplant. We went to a home and garden show and saw a home embroidery machine and thought if might be something she could do at home to earn a little extra income. I told her if she would learn to sew, I would learn to digitize. We started with the Palette Program and trying to cut corners, invested in Origins after a couple of years. I was tantlized by that little worm on that hook. Don't get me wrong, I think Origins is a good program. It gives you lots of tools and you can turn out some pretty good designs but not with the auto digitizer. I have found that experience is the best teacher. I have learned what I can and cannot get away with by trial and error and watching my designs sew and going back to the drawing board to edit them. We are 6 plus years into this and I am retired now. Our business out grew our home and we had a new home with a shop attached built recently. Life is good in Alabama.
Onrie
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Forums > Embroidery Software > Wilcom ES > Learning curve for Origins to Wilcom


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