What is the newest and best pattern making program out there?

[koehler788]

Hey All!
I have been out of the scrolling habit for about a year now, due to WAY TOO MUCH OVERTIME AT WORK.
I am wanting to get back into making patterns and making some sawdust. i am able to get the software to make my patterns, I just can't for the life of me, remember what the good programs are or how to do my patterns.

Is there anyone that can help me?

Any help is Greatly appreciated.
Thanks In Advance
Paul

[WoodCarverOH]

Ink Scape and Gimp are free down loads and there are great tutorials here.

[koehler788]

I had those and wasn't too impressed with them.
I am looking for a good photo editing program that will also allow me to make word patterns also.
I got a new computer and lost the the 2 good ones that I had, corel draw4 and paintshop pro XI.
I was doing well on those and I was wondering if newer versions were being used by the scrollers and pattern makers?
I am also needing to Re-Learn how to make patterns.
( I went Brain- Dead in the time i was away from it all )

[Jediscroller]

Paul,
I can't help ya with the newest and best, but I'm still more than happy with my combination of PSP 8 and Corel Draw 11. That being said, after speaking with Jon from SSWC I'm really wanting to move over to Adobe Illustrator. It has some capabilities that Corel Draw doesn't that greatly interest me (in particular, the positioning of vector lines). Corel is about all I use for word art and clock patterns and it does excel at those.

[lkbraa]

Paul,
I am a die hard CorelDraw user...started with version 4 (20+ yrs ago) and currently using version X4. I recieved an email the other day in regards to X5, but not sure if it is worth the upgrade yet. I purchased the suite, so I also have Paint, Trace and such with it. Not sure what type of scroll work you are wanting to design, but I have done a lot of intarsia patterns and miscellaneous items such as woodart, bookmarks, fretwork, puzzles, etc. However, I do not cut portrait style fretwork, so I am not sure how the program would work for that application. But I do use the Trace aspect of the program with my own photos for intarsia patterns and happy with the outcome.
Just my two cents...Good Luck in your search!

[pmac53]

Paul, I am paul also. I bought a new computer also, with Windows 7 installed. It wouldn't let me install Corel Draw X4 on it. I had to buy S5, which installed right in. It is nice, but I don't see much yet over X4. I am just using it because of the error on X4. They are nice programs.
I also use PSP X2. It is another great program by Corel. I have used PSP since it was a free download created by it originator (not Corel). I know it started with a J but cannot remember the full name for the life of me. I will, sometime.

[frieke]

Hi Paul,
For my patterns i use Gimp and photoshop . I have the adobe CS4 mastercollection, and work now with a trial of the CS5, maybe i will upgrade cuz there's a lot of new stuff in it what can be used for making patterns. For the best lessons in Gimp I can recommand you the lessons of Travis on the scrollsawvillage. When you can work with that, it's a small step to another more difficult programm. i don't know about using illustrator to make patterns, I'm experience with it tough, but keep working with photoshop.

[jim_mex]

Hi Paul - at the end of the day it depends what you want to do.

Vector based illustration programs are great for drawing line drawing patterns and manipulating word art and producing technically precise layout drawings. Photo editing programs which are bitmap based are generally not what you need for line drawing pattern making. They are more useful for producing portrait patterns.

The higher end vector programs like Coredraw and Illustrator incorporate a fair amount of bitmap facilities so can also be used for basic photo editing and will accept many effect plugins which you would normally use in programs like Photoshop or Photopaint.

I draw all my line drawing patterns and word art using vector illustrating software and am familiar with Coreldraw, Adobe Illustrator and the free program Inkscape, for which I've produced a number of tutorials in this forum but my program of choice is Xara Xtreme which has recently been upgraded and renamed Xara Designer Pro.

To me its not so much which program you use but which you feel comfortable with. Line drawing and word art pattern drawing is relatively simple once you learn the basics and most of the bells and whistles that these higher end software programs incorporate are just so much eye candy that never gets used for this type of pattern making. Xara Xtreme, which I've used in various guises for over 10 years as the software has developed, remains for the me the quickest program to learn and the fastest to use and despite having a lot of powerful features, including bitmap editing and basic animation features, it lets you stay in control of your drawing and teaches you to think your way through your work in a logical manner which brings you up to speed quickly.

For portrait patterns I'd suggest you go with Gimp or Photoshop and follow the tutorials which Travis has produced - as suggested by Frieke

[Rick-H]

Originally Posted by Jediscroller

Paul,
move over to Adobe Illustrator. It has some capabilities that Corel Draw doesn't that greatly interest me (in particular, the positioning of vector lines).

Jedi what are you trying to do with the position of lines? Corel will do a lot of things once you find the right tools, and that can be difficult sometimes. If I knew what you were doing I might be able to tell you how to do it, if I know a way, in Corel. I also have Adobe Illustrator 9 but seldom use it.

[Jediscroller]

Rick,
I just saw your reply. Basically, when outlining patterns the outline line is always on the outside of the gray area (think wordart and portrait style here). In Adobe you can position this on the inside, center or outside of the area to be outlined. I played with Corel and tried everything I could find regarding the line weights and such but I couldn't find a way to change the position of the line. The simplest example I can think of is when you have two letters close together, when you add the black outline (even a very thin line) they may end up touching. With Adobe, you can add this line inside the area to that this isn't an issue but I haven't found a way to do it in Corel. This hasn't proven to be much of a factor with clocks though as I'm typically drawing the outline anyhow to start off with as opposed to filling and outlining.
I hope I'm being clear.