About Fashion Designer Software
Fashion design is a very lucrative business if you have the talent and the flair. There are so many things you can do with an imagination and a few yards of cloth. Fashion design software makes the tasks even easier by revealing insider secrets and educating budding designers about becoming better in the field.
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Function
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The main function or purpose of fashion designer software is to help you break into the fashion world. The software is no substitute for education in the field, but it can guide you in the right direction. Some fashion designer software lets you browse through already made sketches and mix and match outfits. You can do this for fun, or if you have talent with a needle and thread, you can make one of the outfits. Working with fashion designer software will help you style and design your own clothes or a clothing line much like the pros do.
Types
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There are four basic types of fashion designer software. The most common type is CAD, or Computer Assisted Design, software. With this type of program, the user can make virtual models dressed in various designs. The CAD software is typically used within the fashion and textile industries, too.
Pattern-making software is the second main type. This software is mainly for designing patterns with various colors, textures and designs. This is more for beginners who are starting out in the fashion design industry because it is typically less expensive than the CAD programs.
PDM fashion industry software is for the serious fashion designer. PDM stands for Product Development Management. As the name implies, it is used to develop clothing lines and manage various aspects of a fashion design business.
Finally, embroidery design software is a basic type that allows users to create customized monograms, embroidery patterns and other designs.
OptiTex Fashion Software
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OptiTex is one of the most comprehensive fashion design software programs in the industry. It has been featured on Bravo, and it offers several features for beginners and experts in the industry. The Pattern Design feature, for instance, allows the user to digitize curves, create a personal working environment and design a variety of patterns easily. The program's 3-D Runway Designer allows the user to create a virtual runway show, letting him analyze fabric behavior while a model is making her strides on the catwalk. Direct Converters are another feature of OptiTex, which allows users to input various formats into the program to convert them to CAD files for easier use.
Fashion Toolbox
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Fashion Toolbox designing software offers an inexpensive educational version for just $249. This program was founded in 1997, and it is now one of the best-selling design software programs on the market. The TexMapper feature allows the user to create realistic photos of designs, textures and patterns to see how something looks with a different pattern or design. The program also offers a feature called Design Essentials, a high-end CAD system with storyboard capabilities and layout tools. This component of the Fashion Toolbox sells for about $1,700.
Considerations
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Before you decide which fashion designer software to purchase, make sure you are serious about it. Many pieces of fashion designer software are very expensive and may not be worth buying if you aren't serious about using it to break into the business. Some programs run into the thousands of dollars for complete fashion tools such as fabric degrees, textile applications and make-your-own weaves.
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