embroidery business questions

gravelgrl

Hello,

I'm new to all this and I've seen some very helpful responses from everyone here and I'm hoping you can help me as well. I've been appliqueing my own designs on infant clothing using my basic BabyLock Ellure. I'd really like to outsource and have someone digitize my designs for me to make things easier. The problem is I have no idea what I need--machine-wise or software-wise. Should I get a better machine? What software is best for just converting the designs? I'm not really interested in digitizing them myself. I'm starting to think my Ellure isn't up to par.
Thank you so much for your time and help!

Marc

Welcome to the forums

Machine-wise you will need a reader/writer box and a memory card for transferring designs to your embroidery machine. Basically, when you receive the digitized design from the digitizer on your computer, you need a way to load that design to your machine. The reader/writer box connects to your computer and uses a software (comes with the box) to write the design to a memory card. Then of course you take that card to your machine to load the design. The reader/writer box is very popular for embroiderers who love to download tons of free designs from the Net.

Reader/writer boxes you should research: Vikant Ultimate Box, Amazing Box, and OESD Magic Box. These are off the top my head in no particular order. Check them out and make sure you get the proper card that's compatible with your machine.

Software-wise for the purpose of converting design formats, viewing designs and their properties, printing run sheets, and other very basic functions, have a look at Wilcom .EMBroidery TrueSizer and Tajima DG/ML by Pulse - Ambassador. They're completely free.
As the saying goes, use the right tool for the job. If you're going to be taking orders on a regular basis, you need a commercial machine. A home machine simply can't compete in a production environment compared to a commercial machine.

gravelgrl

Marc--thank you so much for all the suggestions! It really helps a lot and I feel so much less overwhelmed. The things you recommended sound like just what I need.

Thanks again!

Marc

You're welcome. Just take it one day at a time and you'll be fine

megrisoft

I am new to this forum but i am already active member on many other forums. I like this forum and basically the answers given by Marc. I am digitizing from last 20 years and also do art work so i will like to be active member on this forum to share information and the knowledge. I will advice that you should outsource the digitizing work rather then doing yourself as you have already pointed that. In this way you can save your time and also can get quality designs.

EmbroideryDigitizing

Hi Gravelgrl,

You can try and learn digitizing step by step... experience will show you results.

Outsourcing makes sense. If are to provide good quality results to your clients, You certainly need a good digitizing firm that doesnt crash your budget.

Look around for digitizers, you can find dozens by searching on google and yahoo.

Sahel

__________________
Almost 12000 satisfied customers enjoying just half the price.