Corel, Wilcom Join Forces for Embroidery System

Two heads are better than one when it comes to designing garments, and that’s the driving force behind DecoStudio, a new embroidery application recently unveiled by Canadian graphics software specialist Corel Corp. and Australian CAD specialist Wilcom International.

DecoStudio takes the strengths of Corel’s signature graphics software,Corel Draw, and integrates it within Wilcom’s CAD software to create a tool that offers designers better visualization and latitude when it comes to creating a garment, said Martin Kristiaman, chief executive officer of Wilcom, speaking at a Jan. 17 release event during the Imprinted Sportswear Show in Long Beach, Calif.

“Wilcom is in 70 countries, with the largest customer base in the world, and Corel Draw is the dominant visualization tool around the world, so it was a natural matchup,” Kristiaman said.

The chief executive officer explained that the embroidery business has become diversified among numerous industries, with fashion accounting for 12 percent of all uses. DecoStudio was built to be flexible and scalable enough to adapt to those uses.

The key driver behind the software is its ability to switch between vector art and embroidery modes, while keeping all information in one file. In addition, designs can be layered with different techniques, including screen-print, direct-to-garment, print embroidery and appliqueacute;. The system automatically determines the best stitch settings to use based on the fabric and garment types chosen, whether a logo on a hat or more-elaborate designs on a T-shirt.

“It’s object-based editing,” said Brendan Prazner, product manager for DecoStudio. “It’s seamless.”

Prazner explained that the system can combine embroidery and print graphics. It features 256 patterns and includes more than 10,000 clip art images, 1,000 open-type fonts and 35 WGLA fonts.

“With DecoStudio, it is now possible for anyone, regardless of experience, to produce high-quality digitized graphics,” said Craig Mertens, president of Digital Art Solutions.

DecoStudio will be released this spring with a retail price of $1,999.

For more information, visit www.wilcom.com.au or www.corel.com/decostudio. —Robert McAllister