M&R TECHNOLOGIES PCStitch 7 ( Windows )

Rating:
Summary: remember to save your work!
Review: I only do cross-stitch patterns so I can't speak to how effective this software program is for embroidery or bargello work although it does have regular, half and back stitches, French knots plus a bunch of custom stitches (smyrna cross, trellis, eyelet, chessboard, stars, etc).

You start with a basic template where you select a "canvas" by size (in inches or in stitches), specify the number of thread strands and choose a cloth color. This creates a blank, grid-type canvas where you apply your choice of stitches. The program starts with a standard palette to which you subtract or add colors and one of the best features of the program is the fact that it lists hundreds of floss colors by name and number. Included are DMC (six strand floss, rayon and metallic), Anchor, JP Coates, Kreinik varieties, Maderia classic and a number of Mill Hill beads. I have no idea how up-to-date the thread collections are, however; the DMC section doesn't list the variegated threads plus the Mill Hill bead sections don't seem nearly large enough to encompass all their beads. Something the manufacturer might want to think of adding is a feature that would correlate DMC colors with Anchor colors so if you are publishing your design you can list both sets of colors.

The color palette offers you a choice of colors by number or by color range. You select the color you want, add it to your palette and assign it a symbol (there are 200 available). Removing colors is very easy plus you have the option of replacing colors (eg turn all stitches done in "carnation lt" to "forest green md").

Other handy features: spray (to color in a whole section); horizontal and vertical mirrors; center; and erase. You can zoom in to see sections of the design close up and you can remove the grid entirely. There are also options to show the design in black and white, in color and in color with symbols. Another nice feature is that you can switch to text mode using any TrueType font.

The program gives you a large number of "cutesy" designs and borders in a special library so you can cut and paste them on your designs. You can also import your own pictures and photographs directly to the library. A word of warning -- copying jpgs doesn't work very well, especially with anything over 40x40 square, as jpgs tend to blur pixels so you don't get a clear, sharp image.

Problems: I have read their instructions and tried everything I can think of but I can't get the program to copy part of a design and then move it to another part of the canvas. If you select "copy" the program picks up the section you choose and leaves a blank space behind. You can get around this by deleting the section and then pasting the original back on the canvas after which you paste more sections (one at a time) to the canvas, but this is time-consuming and clunky.

I have several times added the same color to the palette by mistake. This is a real pain to correct as you can't simply replace the second one with the first or combine them. The program really should tell you if the color you have selected is already in the palette. Also, if I have been working on designs for two-three hours, the program very occasionally turns itself off. On using the program again you do get a message saying there is a design that hasn't been saved so, theoretically, you can retrieve your work that way.

If you work on a design and later decide to import a palette you have used in another design, you will get one of the more cryptic error messages I have ever seen: "You cannot load a new palette unless there are no stitches set." Why you can't add colors this way seems strange to me, it would certainly be a handy feature.

I don't what other stitching programs are out there so I can't compare this one to them. I do like it and it's a lot of fun to play with despite the fact that it is a bit clumsy to use ("undo" as a icon on the toolbar would be nice). I have made seven original designs I like very much and plan to make more. One more thing: you can choose a regular time (month/six months/year) for the software to contact M&R for updates. I assume this means you can download corrections or new features as they become available.