lam looking for a Simple drafting program any suggestions?
If you don't need anything fancy, WeaveDesign by Bengt Nelson and distributed by the Pikes Peak Weavers Guild might be the thing for you. It's donationware, meaning it's free but a donation would be appreciated if you like it, and it's available at http://www.pikespeakweavers.org/html/ppwg_weavedsn.htm .
If you want something fancier, I have WeaveIt Pro and Fiberworks PCW and like them both. Fiberworks PCW is, I think, the most popular weaving software (at least based on a survey Complex Weavers did a couple years back), so if that's important to you, I'd go with Fiberworks PCW.
But I'd try WeaveDesign first, and see if that suffices for what you want. Nothing like nearly free!
Hi Jeba. I bought PixeLoom and really like it. It's not too expensive, yet does a lot to make designing and weaving simple. I really love how it will convert a draft to doubleweave. Last year I bought a used AVL with compudobby, so I bought WeavePoint to drive the dobby. It has more features than PixeLoom, but I'm still trying to figure it out. And there are some free software packages too, although I highly recommend getting one that will read wif files so you can take advantage of all the free drafts here and on handweaving.net. Most software allows free trials, so definitely try before you buy.
I used PixeLoom a lot when I had a PC. I am all Mac all the time and am anxiously awaiting a Mac version. I've tried several of the weaving software and for simplicity and capability you cannot go wrong with PixeLoom.
Claudia
I also have PixeLoom and use it on a Mac with VMware Fusion and on a cheap little netbook which runs XP and sits next to my computer loom. That's a big feature--it designs and you can buy the drivers for your loom as well. I tried a lot of demos and found PixeLoom to be the most intuitive and affordable. It also doesn't hurt that the writer belongs to my guild and I've taken a few classes from her. Excellent customer support.
Nikki
Thanks-I'm not familiar with WeaveDesign and will go to investigate. I have Eweave and WeaveIt on my list to try.
Thanks for all the input! Being new at leaving comments/questions I should be more explicit in future! I use a Pc with Vista/XP and have a 47" Norwood jack loom. I shall be investigating WeaveDesign, Eweave ( when it comes out) and WeaveIt, and as you all suggest, PixeLoom. I just want the basic drawdown write etc, and wif file access. It's a case of " I'd rather be weaving"! But I'd like to 'see' the color ways and treadling options too.
Jeba
I have three and use FiberworksPCW the most. It has the best print options and good color adjustments and shortcuts. Download the free demo versions and try them. Also read "weaving software" forum.
Full Mac version of pixeLoom has now been released!
Some things to consider depending on the program(s) you are considering...
If you are attending Convergence, it's a great place to talk to some of the originators of the weaving software and meet fellow users. In 2008 I downloaded the demos and played around with them before the conference, then I brought my laptop to the vendor hall, and had a sit-down at the booth to walk through the capabilities and questions using my machine.
One thing to check is the last update of the version you are considering purchasing. I was a bit concerned when I purchased that the software had not been updated in a few years. You sometimes run into issues with a newer OS on your machine that might be incompatible with the older software. And if they issue an upgrade shortly after your purchase, how does that effect you? (...do you get the upgrade for free, at a reduced fee, etc.?) Unfortunately (or fortunately?), we are a small market niche, so they don't seem to upgrade all that often.
A good day to do this is the last day or two of the conference, when the vendor hall isn't so busy and they will have more time for you one-on-one. It might be a good idea to see if they are going to have any special deals in conjunction with the conference, too.
Also, we are having a meet up Thursday, 5-6 pm outside the vendor hall. So this might be your chance to snag someone in person who uses the software you are considering, even if not represented by a vendor at the conference. (When my guild mates and I get together with our laptops and work on drafting, we call that a "weaving geek date!")
Finally, Judie Eatough is known as the weaving software guru in some circles, and her website might help. She is teaching a seminar at Convergence this summer on "Drafts for Specialty Weaving" that will explore which programs are adept at depicting weave structures such as tablet, inkle, kumihimo, and pick-up.
BTW—I survived on a weaving demo program for about 10 years before I bought the real-deal in '08!
If you don't need anything fancy, WeaveDesign by Bengt Nelson and distributed by the Pikes Peak Weavers Guild might be the thing for you. It's donationware, meaning it's free but a donation would be appreciated if you like it, and it's available at http://www.pikespeakweavers.org/html/ppwg_weavedsn.htm .
If you want something fancier, I have WeaveIt Pro and Fiberworks PCW and like them both. Fiberworks PCW is, I think, the most popular weaving software (at least based on a survey Complex Weavers did a couple years back), so if that's important to you, I'd go with Fiberworks PCW.
But I'd try WeaveDesign first, and see if that suffices for what you want. Nothing like nearly free!
Hi Jeba. I bought PixeLoom and really like it. It's not too expensive, yet does a lot to make designing and weaving simple. I really love how it will convert a draft to doubleweave. Last year I bought a used AVL with compudobby, so I bought WeavePoint to drive the dobby. It has more features than PixeLoom, but I'm still trying to figure it out. And there are some free software packages too, although I highly recommend getting one that will read wif files so you can take advantage of all the free drafts here and on handweaving.net. Most software allows free trials, so definitely try before you buy.
I used PixeLoom a lot when I had a PC. I am all Mac all the time and am anxiously awaiting a Mac version. I've tried several of the weaving software and for simplicity and capability you cannot go wrong with PixeLoom.
Claudia
I also have PixeLoom and use it on a Mac with VMware Fusion and on a cheap little netbook which runs XP and sits next to my computer loom. That's a big feature--it designs and you can buy the drivers for your loom as well. I tried a lot of demos and found PixeLoom to be the most intuitive and affordable. It also doesn't hurt that the writer belongs to my guild and I've taken a few classes from her. Excellent customer support.
Nikki
Thanks-I'm not familiar with WeaveDesign and will go to investigate. I have Eweave and WeaveIt on my list to try.
Thanks for all the input! Being new at leaving comments/questions I should be more explicit in future! I use a Pc with Vista/XP and have a 47" Norwood jack loom. I shall be investigating WeaveDesign, Eweave ( when it comes out) and WeaveIt, and as you all suggest, PixeLoom. I just want the basic drawdown write etc, and wif file access. It's a case of " I'd rather be weaving"! But I'd like to 'see' the color ways and treadling options too.
Jeba
I have three and use FiberworksPCW the most. It has the best print options and good color adjustments and shortcuts. Download the free demo versions and try them. Also read "weaving software" forum.
Full Mac version of pixeLoom has now been released!
Some things to consider depending on the program(s) you are considering...
If you are attending Convergence, it's a great place to talk to some of the originators of the weaving software and meet fellow users. In 2008 I downloaded the demos and played around with them before the conference, then I brought my laptop to the vendor hall, and had a sit-down at the booth to walk through the capabilities and questions using my machine.
One thing to check is the last update of the version you are considering purchasing. I was a bit concerned when I purchased that the software had not been updated in a few years. You sometimes run into issues with a newer OS on your machine that might be incompatible with the older software. And if they issue an upgrade shortly after your purchase, how does that effect you? (...do you get the upgrade for free, at a reduced fee, etc.?) Unfortunately (or fortunately?), we are a small market niche, so they don't seem to upgrade all that often.
A good day to do this is the last day or two of the conference, when the vendor hall isn't so busy and they will have more time for you one-on-one. It might be a good idea to see if they are going to have any special deals in conjunction with the conference, too.
Also, we are having a meet up Thursday, 5-6 pm outside the vendor hall. So this might be your chance to snag someone in person who uses the software you are considering, even if not represented by a vendor at the conference. (When my guild mates and I get together with our laptops and work on drafting, we call that a "weaving geek date!")
Finally, Judie Eatough is known as the weaving software guru in some circles, and her website might help. She is teaching a seminar at Convergence this summer on "Drafts for Specialty Weaving" that will explore which programs are adept at depicting weave structures such as tablet, inkle, kumihimo, and pick-up.
BTW—I survived on a weaving demo program for about 10 years before I bought the real-deal in '08!
