Downloading

I can't locate the design I just downloaded on my computer.

When downloading designs, it is very important to know the file location where the computer saves your designs. Or, better yet, choose the location yourself when the computer prompts you to save the downloaded design. Most Windows®-based computers have a filing system built in that you can control. It is called Windows® Explorer. Get to know how to create folders and sub-folders in this program to better organize your computer. Take basic computer classes at a local adult community education center to learn more about using a computer.

My embroidery machine format is not one of the available download options. Why?

Sometimes you'll discover that not all embroidery machine formats are available for downloading off the Internet. This could be due to the design size or the conversion capabilities of the software in which the design was digitized. It is important to know and recognize the design size limitations of your equipment. Just because you have a larger hoop doesn't always mean you can embroider designs larger than 4" square. Most professional digitizing companies know what sizes different machine formats can open and embroider. Therefore, if a design is oversized, there are some machine formats that the design cannot be saved in, due to size restrictions.

Most embroidery software can open or import other file formats. Therefore, if a design is not available in your embroidery machine file format, open or import another file format into your embroidery software and resave it in the file format appropriate for your embroidery equipment.

The designs I want to download have the extension .ZIP. Why?

The best way to transport designs over the Internet is in compressed files, such as .ZIP or .EXE formats. The contents in compressed files are protected from harm while transferring from one computer to another. If a design is uncompressed during transportation, a variety of problems may occur--missing information or design degradation. Therefore, it is necessary to have an uncompressing software package, such as WinZip, Stuff It, or similar software that can uncompress the downloaded file. .EXE files are self-extracting. It is best to save the .EXE file on your computer and activate the executable file by double-clicking on the file name.

Using the design

I'm having trouble opening a downloaded design in my software or on my embroidery machine. What am I doing wrong?.

There are many different answers to this question. First and foremost, it is extremely important to have the latest version of software loaded on your embroidery machine and computer. One possible answer is that you may have encountered a "glitch" in the system. Sometimes "fixes" or "updates" have been posted at the Web site of embroidery machine and software manufacturers. These "patches" fix or update known software errors and help keep your embroidery experience running smoothly. If you have tried a variety of ways to fix a problem without avail, consult the Web site of your embroidery machine or software manufacturer for possible updates or solutions to problems in the FAQs section of the site. Or visit the dealer that sold you your equipment for assistance to problems.

I'm getting a message that says part of the design is missing.

A complication occurred in the saving or downloading process. Design data may have been lost during the saving, downloading, conversion or the Internet transfer. Simply re-download the design from the source, consult the company where the design was purchased or contact the manufacturer of the design.

Can I share a design with friends and family if I received it free off the Internet?

It is illegal to share, copy, sell, provide for free or rent designs, even if the design was provided to you free-of-charge. The creator of a design or series of designs is the only one who can distribute the files. Therefore, if you have downloaded a design free off the Internet, send friends and family to the same site to download their own copies of the design. For more information about the embroidery copyright laws, visit www.embroideryprotection.com.

The designs I download look awful. The colors have changed and don't look anything like the manufacturer's drawing or photograph. Why?

During the design conversion process and with the multitude of embroidery software and machine versions, it is difficult to keep the original colors. Therefore, it is best to "colorize" designs upon downloading them into software or on your embroidery machine. In your embroidery machine specific software, change the colors according to the manufacturer's original colors and then save the design. On your embroidery machine, change the colors. Note: It may be necessary to change the colors each time the design is sent to the embroidery machine, depending on the original software or machine capabilities of holding the colors. The changing of colors allows for creative freedom to choose colors that best match the fabric color of your project.