WeaveMaker Mi

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                                                                                               Now in Version 8.5

Introduction

Benefits

Features

Version 8.5 for WeaveMaker

Loom Drivers

System Requirements

Introduction

WeaveMaker is AVL's cross-platform weaving and design software. WeaveMaker creates custom software, websites (including online stores), and fabricates custom electronics. Most of their business is in textiles and fashion, but they sometimes wander outside that field. WeaveMaker operates and appears the same in both the Windows and Macintosh environments.

It includes the greatest number of features and design possibilities of any weaving software we have ever presented. WeaveMaker includes a full set of design tools for both dobby and treadle looms. Automatic repeats; custom repeats; "exploded" 3-D views of the weave; float histograms; and an automatic yarn conversion table are but some of the advanced functions contained in this state-of-the-art software.

Benefits

WeaveMaker is the perfect software tool for you, the intermediate to advanced designer of woven fabrics, working for a mill or as a free-lancer, designing by hand or with CAD software.

WeaveMaker is highly automated. Much of the work you now do by hand, it does automatically. And communicating your ideas to the mill is a snap. WeaveMaker puts enormous emphasis on color accuracy. Used carefully, WeaveMaker helps ensure that the color you see on the screen, and the color you see on paper, match the color of your yarn samples.

The benefits of WeaveMaker:

• Increase your personal productivity.
• Spend more time on design and less on tedious thread-by-thread editing.
• Create fresh, new looks.
• Use longer repeats.
• Use color more effectively.
• Tackle complex weave structures and color arrangements.
• Generate full-featured mill tickets.
• Designs for both treadle and dobby looms - 4 to 32 harness; 1000 ends by 1000 picks.
• Built-in colorway system makes color samples a snap. Easy matching of screen to printer color.
• Simple tool box puts all necessary functions just a click away.
• A library of designs is available through Automatic Pattern Generation.
• Loom control for AVL Compu-Dobby® and other looms. Plus complete AVL weaving cartridge control.
• A huge variety of printing options in both color and black & white, including the ability to match screen colors to print colors.
• Export any image as a TIFF file.
• Displays cross-sectional view of both warp and weft.
• Shows 3-D images of any weave in a large number of views are perfect for the learning (and teaching) of weave structure.
• Automatically converts yarn sizes into nine different scales.
• Pickout of fabric.

Features

The WeaveMaker Manual and Tutorial both provide detailed instructions on the menus and actions of the software, but you'll quickly find that WeaveMaker meets the standard test of good software; the features are so natural and intuitive that you soon won't need to look them up. Here are some of them:

• Automatic pattern generation: You set the guidelines and WeaveMaker will automatically generate patterns. After spending thousands of hours interviewing and working with designers and weavers, our software developers created these automatic pattern generators that allow WeaveMaker to produce weaves that fit many styles. Every weave created by the automatic pattern generators is unique!
• CAD (Computer-Assisted Design) tools
• Loom variations: With a "regular" loom, you have threading, tie-up, and treadling components to work with. With a dobby loom, you can work directly with the peg plan, and you can convert back and forth between peg plan and tie-up/treadling. WeaveMaker handles up to 32 harnesses and 32 treadles and warp and weft lengths up to 600 threads. And, there's a Tromp-as-Writ option to make treadling duplicate threading.
• Repeats: WeaveMaker gives you simple, friendly tools to make straight repeats, mirrored repeats and other variations, in weaving elements (threading, treadling, peg plan) and in warp and weft color assignment.
• Printing: Your printing options are threading, treadling (peg plan), or whole drawdown in two grid sizes. One thing any weaver needs from weaving software is a sharp, clear picture of the threading to take to the loom when setting up the warp. WeaveMaker gives you that: diagrams blocked into eights and fours with symbols for colors underneath, making it easy to keep your place and avoid mistakes.
• Realistic fabric rendering (both on the screen and on printed samples): Color printouts that are startlingly fabric-like
• Analysis and full-fabric float correction: Drop a threading into the warp, then draw (freehand!) the pattern you want repeated in your design. WeaveMaker automatically figures out how to weave your design. But that's not all! Included in WeaveMaker is powerful float correction capability. You look at the floats (front, back, warp, and weft) that WeaveMaker displays and, with a click of the mouse button, reduce the floats to fit your requirements. WeaveMaker automatically corrects the weave.
• 3D Fabric viewer: WeaveMaker will show you a piece of your fabric in 3D, so you can examine your weave in detail!
• Ability to rearrange harnesses even after design is completed: Improve the efficiency of your loom threading by rearranging harnesses, after you have completed your design. WeaveMaker makes all the necessary adjustments.
• Warp threading and color locking capabilities: Develop dozens of patterns from a single warp.
• Drivers for popular dobby looms: WeaveMaker has options for supporting six of them: AVL Compu-Dobby (type I and type II), SLIPS, Leclerc, Louet, and Macomber.
• Files: You can save fabrics at any time and bring them back later, organizing them into standard Macintosh folders as you like.
• Ability to Set your own Preferences: At any time, you can declare preferences such as loom size and type and save them in a preferences file. From then on, those characteristics will be the default when the program is launched.

Version 8.5 for WeaveMaker

The updates in version 8.5 continue with WeaveMaker's industry leading features. The following describes many of the new features. For a more detailed view of what's new click here.

• The Macintosh version of WeaveMaker is now Mac OsX native. The Windows version has been optimized for Windows XP.
• A high quality wool simulation is now available in a reasonably priced handweaver's product. This may be the best simulation ever for a handweaving product … it’s so good, you may never weave again. It is also an excellent simulation for cotton.
• Expanded Capacity. Now WeaveMaker can handle up to 3200 ends and 150 harnesses (and no, that’s not a hint of future AVLs).
• Pickout! This new feature provides you with two capabilities. First, it lets you analyze a woven fabric and input it into the software. It's specifically set up so you can enter a weave with just one hand and without having to look at the screen; thus you can be looking in a linen tester or other magnifying glass, studying a fabric, while you're also inputting the weave structure into the software, without taking your eyes off the fabric (so you don't lose your place). Second, it lets you freehand draw any design and have it analyzed into a woven structure.
• Color Mixer. If you like color ... and what weaver doesn’t, then the new Color Mixer is a must. It is a revolutionary new way to look at and choose colors. You can now arrange colors in a palette size of your own choice … line up two palettes next one another ... or even have four. Mix, match, and choose. It’s a fantastic way to get to subtle colors. When coupled with the new wool simulation, well, as previously stated, you may never throw a shuttle again.
• Upgrade Price for both Mac and Windows --. please contact AVL for pricing.

Loom Drivers

WeaveMaker Mi has been tested by its developers to run on a wide range of looms. There is no separate charge for loom drivers and all are included and installed with the software. The following looms are supported:

• AVL Compu-Dobby I (16 & 24 Harnesses)
• AVL Compu-Dobby II (16 & 24 Harnesses)
• AVL Air Compu-Dobby II (4-16 Harnesses)
• AVL Compu-Dobby III (4-32 Harnesses)
• AVL Compu-Dobby III WDL (4-24 Harnesses)
• Macomber
• Dobbytron
• Louet (Octado, Megado, Magic)
• SLIPS (Schacht, for example)

System Requirements

WeaveMaker runs on Windows and Macintosh computers.

When you license a copy of WeaveMaker, you receive a 'key' (a string of letters and number) which unlocked WeaveMaker. The key works equally well on Windows and Macintosh computers, so if you switch computer types, you don't have to get a new software license.

The most current version of WeaveMaker runs on Windows XP and Mac OS X computers.

Windows XP Any computer that runs Windows XP will have sufficient power and memory to run WeaveMaker. WeaveMaker is compatible with Service Pack 2 of Windows XP (that is, XP/SP2). A large monitor (17 inches or up) is a definite plus.

Macintosh OS X Any computer that runs Max OS X will have sufficient power and memory to run WeaveMaker. A large monitor (17 inches or up), or two monitors, is a definite plus.

(Older versions are available which run on Mac OS 9, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows 98, and Windows 95. However, new license keys are not being issued for these older versions).

Contact us today for more information

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