No computer on your quilt system? Then click here to visit our Pre-Design Studio website.

 

 

Art and Stitch

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

 

Q:: I purchased a new computer: can I move my Art and Stitch from one computer to the new one?

 

A:: Yes, you can move the program, using the latest version 1.1:

 

Important: do NOT uninstall from the old computer but "de-activate" Art and Stitch first, before getting rid of the old computer or before sending it off for repair work.

• Download the latest (trial) version 1.1 of this website and install on the old computer.

• Start this latest version of Art and Stitch on the old computer and choose menu Help > License Activator.

• The form will open showing all information you entered during the first activation.

• Click on the button "Deactivate". The program will close. The activation is now free to be used on your new computer (or to re-activate the computer when it's back from the repair shop).

• Install the latest version on your new computer and use the same Activation Serial Number that was sent to you when you registered the software.

• Both computers must be of the same user, as you cannot transfer your Personal License to someone else.

 

Deactivation instructions and screenshot can be found on page 4 of the Quick Start Guide inside Art and Stitch 1.1 (menu Help > Quick Start Guide).

 

 

Q:: Is Art and Stitch an upgrade of Pre-Design Studio?

 

A:: Art and Stitch and Pre-Design Studio are both invented by us, but developed by two different teams of software engineers.

Where Pre-Design Studio is an easy to use vector drawing program that can export to many longarm quilt formats, that can print pantos and has some wonderful stitch functions (Applique, jumpfree redwork, quilt patterns for embroidery machines), it is not a full digitizing program.

Art and Stitch is an easy to use vector drawing program AND a full digitizing program, with an extensive library of ready made designs, motifs , creative fillers. So, two different programs, not an "upgrade".

See the comparison sheet between the two programs on the Overview page.

Right now there is a nice introduction offer for Art and Stitch.

　

 

Q:: How does Art and Stitch compare to AutoSketch?

 

A:: Many longarm quilters use AutoSketch to create their own designs.

The big difference between AutoSketch and Art and Stitch is that all the bells and whistles of AutoSketch are made for engineers, architects and rocket scientists (you can design the wiring of a Boeing747 with AutoSketch).

The Art and Stitch bells and whistles and powerful vector drawings tools are specially made for longarm quilters and embroidery digitizers. Art and Stitch is invented by a quilter/embroiderer/designer, and author of embroidery digitizing tutorials.

 

　

Q:: I am not really computer savvy. How steep is the learning curve of Art and Stitch?

 

A:: Making digitizing easier has been our company motto for almost 16 years! Help is inside the program, written as a tutorial: read the help file in the given order and you know all you need to start digitizing the most creative quilting or embroidery patterns. Tutorial movies are on the Art and Stitch CD-rom and on the website.

Customer support is only one email away, plus we have a very helpful Yahoogroup where you can ask anything and get fast replies.

 

 

Q:: I have a Gammill/Statler system. Do I still need AutoSketch to add First and Last commands?

 

A:: No, you don’t need any other program. When you digitize your pattern in Art and Stitch, you can save it into the format of your own quilt system, save on a USB stick and take that into the longarm system. The First and Last macros for Statler / Creative Studio are automatically added by Art and Stitch when you save the pattern as a QLI file.

 

Q:: Can I create a dashed jump line between separate patterns?

 

A:: Art and Stich will automatically do that for you. When you have two separate patterns, just assign stitches and you will see the dashed jump appear.

　

 

Q:: I am a digitizer and sell longarm patterns. Do I need other software to convert into the various quilt formats?

 

A:: No, you don’t need conversion software. In Art and Stitch you can save in the major longarm quilt formats and in the major home embroidery formats.

 

 

Q:: Can Art and Stitch be used on a MAC?

 

A:: Yes, provided the MAC has a Windows emulating program such as Bootcamp, Parallels or Virtual Machine.

 

 

Q:: I don't have a longarm system, *just* an embroidery machine. Is Art and Stitch the right choice for me?

 

A:: Art and Stitch is written in the first place for longarm quilting, but has some very nice functions to create your own embroidery designs too.

Those of you who have a longarm quilt system will love to be able to use the exact same digitizing program to create designs for your embroidery machine.

Those of you who have an embroidery machine, but do not have a longarm quilt system: please know that using Art and Stitch solely to create embroidery designs cannot be compared to using the more complete embroidery digitizing programs as Brother’s PE-Design, Bernina Artista Designer, Pfaff or Husqvarna / Viking 4D.

Art and Stitch does not have digitized lettering, or block/column digitizing functions.

That said... with Art and Stitch you can make very creative embroidery designs, including redwork, applique and freestanding lace and we have lots of beautiful fancy fill patterns and motifs. Drawing in Art and Stitch is actually easier than in the other programs mentioned. And our customer support is just wonderful. Remember that I started my business almost 16 years ago writing tutorials for embroidery digitizing software...

 

 

Q:: I have a longarm system, but don't have a computer guided system. Can I use Art and Stitch?

 

A:: Yes in theory you can. In a non-computerized system you have to use stencils, or paper pantos to transfer the design to your quilt. That can be done by printing the design from Art and Stitch and turning that into a stencil, but ... transferring Motifs, (Cross) Hatching and Creative fills to a non-computerized system using stencils is in my opinion too complex.

Therefore our other vector drawing program, Pre-Design Studio, would be a better choice in your case.

See comparison of the two programs on the Overview Page. For more information about Pre-Design Studio visit the website www.pre-designstudio.com