Singer | Futura Auto Punch Software for XL-400 Sewing and Embroidery Machine

I read the reviews and hesitant about purchasing this software. It took all of ten minutes to set up and create a design. I'm thrilled! I have Windows 8 and already downloaded the upgrade as soon as I purchased the new computer with Windows 8. The installation was flawless. I already purchase the Singer Hyper Font software and very pleased. Next was to try this program. I know I have a lot to learn when not using the Wizard tool. However, what fun using the Wizard until I learn more.I found some clip art on Microsoft windows. It was a set of tulips. The program was flawless. I also use MyEditor Shareware software. It does give a clearer, crisper view of the design. I am very very happy.P.S., I've only been embroidering for eight months now.

program was a little difficult to understand the first time I tried to read through it, but after going through it a few more times and trying to do it a step at a time, I was finally able to "get" most of it. There were some areas that could be a little more explainatory. I haven't had much time to use it as of yet but I think that once I can really spend time with it that it will be one of the better programs Ican use. I do like the versatility of being able to make my own designs and then see them come to life in front of my eyes!

It was hard to install. The photo that I tried to use did not turn out well at all. I will need a professional photo editing software in order to use this software.

I expected better for $200. While it is adequate at super simple designs, it has difficulty determining color changes within the pattern and finding the outline of the design. I have tried it with NUMEROUS different logos and graphics and also find that it has difficulty finding the color white within the pattern even when I check the box asking if I want to stitch the blocks that have the same color as the background. I have had to go into a different program and apply a contrasting color to the entire background (such as purple around a orange, white and green Irish flag) in order for the program to find and stitch the white of the Irish flag. I've also had to add more outline to many graphics in order for it to stitch a black outline that is clearly visible in the graphic. I'm well versed in computer graphic programs and use them often. The sales pitch on this product makes you feel that it will easily convert your graphic for anyone with beginner skills when it fact if it is not a very basic graphic you will need other programs (like Photoshop) to make Autopunch work appropriately. I wish I hadn't wasted $200 on the program. ($50 is a much more realistic price for what you will receive.) For the most part, I will continue to purchase designs and not spend hours of my time editing a graphic before using Autopunch.

You can take a picture off of anything and digitize it and make it where it can embroider it. I can take a picture my kid drew and then make it into embroidery. It also will automatically recommend the colors of thread to use in it to. I recommend you watch some online videos of people demonstrating it. Overall it is really great.

The program does what is says it does. However, getting it properly loaded is an issue. I am a bit of a computer geek and I had trouble. Starting with it completely crashing the computer I tried it on first(windows Vista). Followed by no longer recognizing the machine correctly on the second computer I tried it on(windows XP). I finally was able to complete my project by wiping my first computer, reloading the futura software without auto punch on it. Then building my design on the second computer (that did have Auto Punch, but wouldn't transmit to the machine), saving the file to a thumb drive and sending the information to the machine with the First computer (which I could never get auto punch to properly load on). Eventually I did get it to transmit to the machine from the 2nd computer, after re loading the machine drivers 10+ times but it's still having trouble recognizing the small hoop(though I think that might be an issue with my hoop more than the program). I'm currently attempting to install it on my windows 7 computer but haven't had a chance to check if its working or not. All in all, if you are not completely computer literate it will probably cost you a lot of money to get it all worked out. Or a lot of time on the Internet looking at what you could do to fix the issues you are facing. If you are computer literate it will probably just cause you a lot of trouble. Though I do have to say my finished product turned out great. I just wish the software designers had made it easier to install (properly).

This arrived on time and as expected. Although I am fairly tech minded, I am new to embroidery and so there will be a learning curve required. I was able to take pictures and turn them into working embroidery files. The process was simple enough for me to figure out without any manual reading. There are a few file format options to save the completed designs in and the process is fairly simple. Having said that, I will have to finagle the process somewhat because in a two-colour design I experimented with; the resulting design had many more steps than required. I do find that it is best used with simple pictures as shading gets somewhat lost as can be expected with embroidery. Smaller details seem to get lost in the process as well. I have found that I have resorted to altering the pictures to make them work better for embroidery designs. Also, on the subject of picture formats, not all are supported. One that I use regularly is .png and it is not supported while both .jpeg and .bmp are.

So easy to use and works great!