Software for Patterns

Hello, fellow designers!

What software do you use to create your patterns?

Thanks!
Best regards, flyowl.

Hi flyowl,
that’s an interesting topic—I’m already looking forward to the others’ answers!
We run Linux as our operating system on our computer, so the program names are a bit different than on Windows. I have no idea whether I can really help you, though.
But first, I use a word processor (similar to Word) to write the pattern. I then edit my photos in an image-editing program (called GIMP), where I can crop them, adjust colors, enhance contrast, etc. I insert the edited images into the text document, and when everything is finished, I convert it to a PDF file.
Best regards
Berit

Hello everyone,
I think Picasa and MS Word should be enough for this. In Picasa you should be able to crop or edit the images, and in Word you can write and proofread the texts. Then just save it as a PDF in Word and you're done. I don't make patterns myself. I just know a bit about PCs.
If you want to manage without Word (or without paying for programs), you could also use OpenOffice or Google Docs. However, the spelling check in these alternatives is rather poor. Anyone who doesn't use MS Word could have the texts checked somewhere online, e.g. on the Duden website. However, I don't know right now whether that's free.
I don't know what the ladies here use.

@BeritsLadl, why do you work with Linux? Do you get along well with it?

Best regards, Karo.

@Karonana3
First of all, I have to say that my husband takes care of all the PC-related stuff for us (and I’m happy to leave that to him :)) and I’m certainly not as knowledgeable about it as you are.
Yes, I get along with it very well. Basically, everything is set up similarly to Windows; the programs are also very similar, and everything is intuitive to use. The two big advantages are that it’s free and that it’s by far not as virus-prone as Windows. 
Best, Berit

I create all my patterns using OpenOffice, and I combine the photos with text in an image editing program. I never use the spell checker, so I don’t miss that feature in OpenOffice :-) It also has the advantage that the files take up significantly less storage space.

I use OpenOffice for the text and PhotoScape for image editing (both are freeware).

I’m sure there are specialized programs for creating PDFs or e-books. They should be designed specifically for that purpose. I wonder if anyone here uses them. 

CIB PDF Brewer is quite helpful for that. For commercial use, the license costs just under 20 euros as a one-time fee. It optimizes images, for example, so that they retain good quality while the file is still only as large as necessary.

Hi, I also work with OpenOffice, and for graphics I use Paint Shop Pro.

I make the crochet charts by hand. I also found a simple Russian program that I like to use for circular patterns, because it makes them more precise.

Winke Nici