A Quick Look at Embird 2010 by Carolyn Keber

Embird 2010 has just been released. It is a free upgrade to those who already own Embird 2008. I have been fortunate enough to have been beta testing this latest version for some months. The Embird authors delayed releasing this version to ensure that everything worked okay with Microsoft’s new Windows 7. Now that they are happy with the result you can download it free of charge if you own Embird 2008.There are a number of new features - many of which I will write about in more detail about in the weeks to come. However, here are a few ideas on what to look for!

Embird Manager

• When converting files you now have the ability to “batch convert” to your chosen formats at one time - thus saving a lot of time. Embird will also remember your selected formats for the next time that you wish to convert files.
• When sending designs as an attachment you can now choose up to 10 recipients of the files rather than one at a time as in previous versions.
• In the Right Panel in Manager you can choose to sort the designs in selected folders by Name, File Ext, Date or Size.
• You can also now create a shortcut to embroidery files in other folders using a .lnk extension. You can copy and paste this shortcut file to as many folders as you wish so that when the shortcut is clicked on you will be re-directed to the folder where the original design is stored. This saves having to have multiple files of the same design in various folders and will save space on your computer drive. 
• The stitch-out of any designs seen in Sewing Simulator can now be saved as an EXE file and sent to anyone that wished to “see” a stitch-out of a selected design. 
• Designer One owners can now specify folder names for their Designer 1 floppy disks.

Embird Editor

• In Editor you can also save to a number of formats at one time - as in Manager. 
• Under the View menu if Commands is selected you can see all the trims and stops in a design. Turn this command off if you find it distracting.

Embird Studio

Embird Studio has a number of changes, some of which are as follows -

• You can now set the length of the underlay stitches in any new objects created in Studio. 
• Single outline lettering can now be created in Studio/Font Engine. Studio now reads from the center of a font and will create lettering in a single line (rather than the previous double outline) which can have any Sample style applied to it, including Redwork. This feature would also be great in Font Engine/Editor but for now is only available in Studio. This is so cool. 
• Adjustable stitch direction for Auto Columns allows you to change the direction of automatically created satin stitching. 
• Auto outlining of selected objects. This makes outlining so quick and easy. The shortcut for this is on the Menu Bar. 
• New Baseline options for lettering.

There are a great many more new features as well - way too many to cover at the moment. Needless to say the new version is wonderful.

I hope you enjoy it.

Kind regards
Carolyn Keber
Step by Step Tutorials for all Embird programs and for PE Design