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Platinum is the first major new version of Cross Stitch Professional for 4 years. One of the biggest changes is that after the platinum upgrade, there will not be any need to purchase major version upgrades. The program will evolve over time rather than new features being held back for the next major release. There will be 2 years of free updates with every Platinum package (new or upgrade). After 2 years, there will be a small annual charge to continue updating.
CMYK Colours
The printing industry has used CMYK colour values instead of RGB
for a long time. Often if you are having designs professionaly
printed the printers will ask for CMYK output. Magazines also use
CMYK. The Platinum version allows you to set CMYK colours and have
the whole program work with these colours (not convert from RGB). You
will need the Publisher version to export in CMYK or to print colour
separations but all editions will let you send CMYK designs to
publishers that use our software. You will need to ask them if they
have special CMYK colour values for you to use.
Print preview colours when designing
Since it is posssible to set different colours for print
purposes, the program can now let you design whilst viewing the print
colours.
Stitch by Stitch undo
Previously each click on the undo/redo buttons took the design
back to where you last changed tools or colour. This is still
available but a second tool allows uno/redo one stitch at a time.
Stitch Editor (Plus and Publisher)
Now you can use a complete vector based CAD package included with
the Plus and Publisher versions to create your own stitch types.
Create screen views, toolbar images and designs for the printed
pattern
Petit Point Layer (Plus and Publisher)
Each stitch position can be divided into 4 positions so yo can
mix cross stitch and petit-point for increased resolution in some
areas. Those areas can be separated from the main chart and
additional pages created that show those areas magnified.
Import to petit-point
When importing you can import at both normal and petit point
resolutions. The petit-point is initially hidden from view and you
can selectively substitute the higher resolution for any stitch
position. Just draw over the design with the special tool and watch
the definition of your scanned images increase !
Magic placement of fractional stitches
There is an option to select the orientation of fractional
stitches according to where on the stitch position you click rather
than having a separate tool for each orientation.
Split Stitches
There are cross stitches of half normal height and half normal
width in thePLus version. Unlike the previous Publisher edition
implementation, they interact with cross stitches to delete half a
cross when placed on top.
Variegated Colours
The program can display the effect of variagated thread colours
on the design screen. This is done by allowing several colour
segments to be defined for each thread. There will be updates to the
standrad thread ranges to add variegated colours but at the moment
they have to be edited manually.
View in Frame retains selected frame moulding with design
file.
Colour Schemes
Different colur schemes can be assigned to each type of stitch
for printing. So you could darken light backstitches or lighten dark
cross stitches to improve pattern readability without affecting the
design screen view.
Exporting (Plus and Publisher)
More flexibility for exporting including selection of jpg quality
and transparent Tiff images. Also scaleable wmf vector export. PDF
creation with faster loading of designs with solid backstitch.
Publisher version can export CMYK combined files and colour
separations at any size and resolution.
Print Preview
Much faster and infinite resolution print preview. Just keep
zooming as far as you want.
Toolbars
The toolbars have been improved with more of the commands having
their own buttons. There is also a lock to prevent accidental
movement of toolbar items once you have created your ideal layout.
Many more menu items have images on them.
Manual
Those who get the CD version with printed manual will notice
the quality has improved. This is due to the use of direct digital
printing rather than a copier. Each manual is effectively an
original. A pdf manual also forms the online help. Currently the
manual is displayed on screen starting at page 1. Shortly there will
be updates that make the manual open at the correct page for the
dialog you are viewing.
CAD objects on pattern (Publisher edition)
In the publisher edition you can use the vector CAD package to
create almost any drawing object to add to the pattern. These can
include graduated fill patterns, lines, polygons, curves etc. The CAD
files can also be exported to AutoCAD DXF format.
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