HI Jennifer: Welcome! Great to have a new member onboard. Don't worry... You made the right decision. I am convinced there isn't a better machine on the market. Almost all designs need to be adjusted regardless of the machine you sew it on. You'll find that as you get deeper into it. What I found is a lot of the dakota stuff and even some digitizers do work that plays towards older, less accurate machines. The AMAYA is very precise and is capable of running at speeds that blow the others away. You will find you get a ton more done with her. When you order from a digitizer, they will ask what format you want it in, and what fabric you are sewing it on etc. Someone familiar with the Amaya can definitely take advantage of it's strengths (so that would be a bonus). However, normal designs will sew fine - and the majority of the stuff we have done on the amaya in the last 2+ years was not designed with this machine in mind. I don't think anyone meant to scare you. Like I mentioned, you just may need to tweak here and there in designs made for other machines. Bottom line is, we as a community are here for you - don't be afraid to ask questions! If you need help, there are plenty of us who have been through every step. You are in good hands! John -----Original Message----- From: amayausers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:amayausers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steve Cohen Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 2:34 PM To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [amayausers] Re: Digitizer Digitizing is the process of converting a logo into a file that the embroidery machine can read. (You can not take a picture and plug it into the machine and make it sew that logo without someone digitizing it.) This is usually done when someone has a company logo and wants thier logo done in embroidery. The other option is to buy stock designs which are designs that some company has already digitized for you. My understanding is Melco gives you a handful of designs when you buy the machine. The designs are from Dakota. Talk to your salesperson if they didn't give you any. Most people starting out in embroidery do not digitize at first due to the learning curve. Once you get the hang of running the software and machine, then would be a good idea to start doing your own digitizing. Most people understand there is a one time set-up fee to digitize thier logo. Mark it up so you make a couple dollars off of it if you pay a digitizer to do it. Hello my name is JENNIFER REEDY and I have been lurking for about 6 months so I can decide if the Amaya is the way I want to go. I ordered 2 XT's Monday. But this thread has me concerned. Do you have to have things specially digitized for the Amaya? Could someone please make this clearer for me? You can email me privately if you would like. JENNIFER REEDY CREATIVE THREADS Galax, Va creativethreads@xxxxxx 276-236-0800 -----Original Message----- From: amayausers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:amayausers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Veena Viswanath Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 10:27 AM To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [amayausers] Re: Digitizer I digitize most of my designs myself. Once in a while, I stump on something and need help. The previous job I got stumped with a very difficult client, I got it digitized by Clear Sky and it was not any better than what I had done. Most people are used to digitizing for other machines where they have densities of 3.2 which croaks on my amaya. In the end, mine came out better since I had perfected it. Also, I got a hint from roland to use satin fill instead of column and it came out pretty good. I do spend quite a bit of time doing it. Janel Harris from Silver Star Embroidery does do digitizing for Amaya. She did a few designs for me. Even when I help out some one, I do a complete stitch out on my machine to make sure it runs ok. Best Regards, Veena Viswanath Iris Embroidery www.IrisEmbroidery.com (510)-226-6171 -----Original Message----- From: amayausers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:amayausers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 6:35 AM To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [amayausers] Re: Digitizer This message was posted by Steve on AmayaUsers.com. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY VIA EMAIL. Instead, respond to the thread on the WEBSITE by clicking here: http://www.amayausers.com/boards/ultimatebb.php?/topic/4/17.html#000001 I do all of my own digitizing. If you need help or a logo done, I can do that too. I charge by difficulty, not by stitch count. (Sometimes a 10,000 stitch design takes less time than a 4,000 stitch design which is why I do this way.) 95% of small pocket size designs are less than $50. If you send me the logo, I can give you a quote. =========================================================== The AmayaUsers Mailing List Website: http://www.amayausers.com Discussion Board: http://www.amayausers.com/boards Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://www.amayausers.com/list =========================================================== =========================================================== The AmayaUsers Mailing List Website: http://www.amayausers.com Discussion Board: http://www.amayausers.com/boards Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://www.amayausers.com/list =========================================================== =========================================================== The AmayaUsers Mailing List Website: http://www.amayausers.com Discussion Board: http://www.amayausers.com/boards Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://www.amayausers.com/list =========================================================== =========================================================== The AmayaUsers Mailing List Website: http://www.amayausers.com Discussion Board: http://www.amayausers.com/boards Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://www.amayausers.com/list =========================================================== =========================================================== The AmayaUsers Mailing List Website: http://www.amayausers.com Discussion Board: http://www.amayausers.com/boards Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://www.amayausers.com/list ===========================================================