I've been using PCStitch since version 7. I first started in 2004. I have never had a problem with the software. I may not be a good "guide" to newbie-friendliness because I do have a strong background in computers.
However, there is a PDF user's guide available as well as a full tutorial.
Converting photos to cross-stitch charts is not the easiest thing to do and it's never wise to JUST use the import feature and create the chart. To get a good quality chart and just what you need requires tweaking.
There are also some hints to the process that I have posted before but I'll put them here.
Make your original image TINY. Shrink your image so that it's pixel dimensions are the same as your desired stitch dimensions.
Select your floss type and maximum number of colors to suit your project and not make them too large or small. You can also specify the percentage to be split between foreground and background.
Chose as simple a background as possible so that most colors can be allocated to the foreground.
Be aware that the colors you see are not the same as what the computer sees. Also, there is only a limited number of shades of any one color. Having an odd color defined is not unknown. I've seen yellow given with a black/white image.
Be ready to tweak! Any raw conversion will have a lot of "confetti stitches". They are inevitable. You may see a smooth or straight solid color line but find the import is blurred and shaded at the edges. That's the way the computer sees thing. You choose how to smooth things out and change colors to suit what you need.
Be prepared to take time. The tweaking phase can take considerable time but it's worth the effort. Just keep comparing your pattern to your original photo until you get just what you want. Don't be afraid to change colors as needed too.
Have fun! That's about the most important part of these tips. If you don't enjoy what you are doing, you probably won't like the result. It's your project. Do with it as suits YOU and don't worry about what anybody else says!
My husband give me PCStitch for Christmas. I read in your post that there is a PDF User Guide and Full Tutorial. Can you tell me where to find those items, please. I am having trouble locating them.
PCStitch 11
Posted - 12/12/2017 : 11:08:00
