• Does anyone know of PC/Mac software for needlepoint design?
• What should I look for in a scanner to scan needlework?

The Answers

Does anyone know of PC/Mac software for needlepoint design?

Computer systems usually come with a drawing or painting program that can be used to chart simple needlepoint stitches. These programs may be part of the operating system, or included with a word processor. In general, these programs do not provide the control and advanced features that are available with precision drawing software. Most professional needlepoint designers and teachers use a precision drawing program to prepare the charts in their instruction booklets. Depending on what kind of stitches you need to chart, you may be able to use a cross stitch charting program.

When selecting a program, you want to consider:

• completeness (Will it import images? What formats does it export? Will it print charts with symbols, colors, or both? Does it include DMC and Anchor color numbers?)
• limits (Is there a limit to how large a chart you can make, or how many colors you can include on one chart?) 
• flexibility (Can you set the fabric thread count? Are half and quarter stitches allowed? Can you assign symbols to particular colors?)

There are many other factors, including the type and complexity of the needlework you wish to design, the type of information you want to include on the printed chart, the number of lines of thread supported, etc.

Information on many of these programs can be found by using your favorite search engine to find Web sites for many of the companies that produce this kind of software. Suggested search terms, to be used without quotation marks:

         stitch software
         stitch software needlepoint

No endorsement, recommendation or value judgment of any software is expressed or implied by the statements made on this page.

What should I look for in a scanner to scan needlework?

To scan needlework, you need a flat-bed scanner, on which you lay the piece, not a traditional scanner that rolls the paper through (like a printer). Obviously you want color capability. To scan in completed projects (to post on a Web site or email to friends) you want the highest resolution (DPI or dots per inch) possible. To scan in images and turn them into needlepoint charts, you want a scanner that can go down to 50-75 dots per inch -- in a linear inch a band of color will have 50-75 small dots. Each one of those dots will become a stitch in the final project. For example: If the picture you scan is 10 inches tall and you have your resolution set on 50 dots per inch (DPI) the final scanned image will be 500 stitches high - almost 28 inches on 18-count canvas. You have to watch the DPI or you could end up with a design the size of your living room wall! Also read: What is copyright, and how does it apply to Needlework?