While the high-end embroidery digitizing software packages are usually out of the budget of the average person, there is one software package out there that delivers a huge return for a very small investment.

Embroidery Magic 2 by Pantograms is one of the few contradictions to the "too good to be true" pricing rule. While it is a very basic program, without a lot of bells and whistles, it produces an excellent quality design. You also get a built-in text tool, design organizer, and it comes with a ton of free designs. Pantograms designed this program to be a "get your feet wet" program, and is really a very bare-bones version of their higher-end commercial software.

What are the drawbacks to this mighty-mini program?

• It does not come with a paper manual. There is a built-in help file, which really is helpful.
• It only exports designs to the .dst commercial format. But there are free programs like True Sizer that you can use to convert to your design format.
• It doesn't have all of the tools some of the "big" (ie EXPENSIVE) programs have. But there are workarounds for many of the issues.
• It doesn't have a built-in photostitch feature. However, again, there is a workaround (see our tutorial) for this.

What are the benefits of looking at Embroidery Magic 2 over other software?

• For people on a very low budget, it's a good way to start out.
• If you don't know if you want to digitize, it's a good investment without a lot of expense.
• If all you want to do is combine designs or create text, not create your own designs, it's a perfect low-cost solution.
• It comes with a design organizer INCLUDED -- something you have to spend hundreds on from other companies.
• It comes with a ton of free designs included -- even more bang for the buck.
• It is a complete stand-alone program. No buying of expensive modules to get photostitch or text capabilities.
• It works with any machine or program (as long as you have a way to convert the design to your format -- like the free program True Sizer -- and a way to get the design into your machine from your computer).
• You will save a lot of money creating your own designs instead of having to buy them from someone else.
  

If you are just starting out in embroidery and are not sure if you want to digitize, or if you can't afford to spend a lot of money, take a serious look at Embroidery Magic 2 and then take a look at our tutorials. It's a good program that is frequently underrated because it's received disgruntled press from users who didn't bother to do anything with it when they realized it didn't have a "paper" manual. But it is every bit as good as programs like Embird and PE-Design, for less money.

Happy Stitching!

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