A beginning seamstress or a young company working to create some kind of original collection does not always have the opportunity to take advantage of the far-expensive services of professional designers and constructors.
Today, such processes are relatively easily implemented using special software - programs for constructing patterns and modeling clothes. Sculpting patterns in the old fashioned way is long, tiring, and the fuse quickly disappears until hands reach prototypes. While programs for creating clothing patterns allow you to quickly and accurately bring your fantasies to life, even if this life will be on the monitor screen. In addition, in this case there are clearly more rights to make a mistake, and you don’t have to worry about corrupted materials, because you can edit the pattern at any time without any material damage.
Almost all serious programs for modeling clothing patterns are related to computer-aided design systems, or simply CAD. The CAD segment is quite wide, because here we have quite a few directions from radio electronics to large construction projects. Naturally, each group has its own specific software, and in our case, these are programs for constructing clothing patterns.
There are a lot of similar products on the Internet, but not all utilities are equally effective and do their job well. We will try to identify the best of the best.
So, we bring to your attention a list of the most popular programs for building patterns, where each utility is distinguished by its efficiency and a large number of flattering reviews from users. For a clearer picture, the software will be presented in the form of a rating. All the applications described below can be found on the official resources of the developers or at dealers, so there should be no problems with testing.
The rating of the best programs for creating patterns is as follows:
- GRAFIS.
- Julivi.
- Leko.
- Valentina.
- FanReal
Consider each participant in more detail.
Grafis
This is one of the best programs for clothing patterns in Russian from the German developer GRAFIS Software (Dr. K. Friedrich GbR). Software specializes in automation of sewing production and workshops.
The utility pleases with a simple and intuitive interface, where it is quite difficult to get lost, especially for an experienced seamstress. In addition, this program for creating clothing patterns is in Russian and with a fully localized help section. The latter is rather big, so beginners will have to spend some time studying the basic functionality.
“Grafis” showed itself perfectly in working with the main set of products: skirts, hats, shirts, shoulder warp, jeans, industrial clothing, etc. The program for constructing patterns allows you to automatically set allowances, gradation for some dimensional signs and make the layout of the project on the details.
Product Features
Almost all professional users leave flattering reviews about the product and its capabilities. For beginners, even despite the simplicity of the interface, it may turn out to be somewhat complicated, but specialists understand all the nuances, as they say, at times.
With regard to system requirements, the developer strongly recommends working with the utility on more or less powerful machines - the i5 level from Intel or Raisen 5 from AMD with at least 8 GB of RAM. Otherwise, the process of creating patterns can be significantly delayed. It takes a program to pattern clothes a little over 200 MB, and it is also recommended to use high-speed SSD-drives to further speed up the layout process.
The product is distributed under a paid license, but the cost is determined by the developer himself based on some factors. That is, there is no specific price tag in the public domain. For those who want to try the utility, there is a trial period, after which it will be necessary to send a semblance of a questionnaire to the developer, and he will already announce the final cost.
Julivi
Another widely sought-after program for patterning clothes from the developer "Saprlegprom". The latter offers several complete solutions for the sewing industry. The list of developer products contains applications for both 2D and 3D design.
The program for patterning clothes can build patterns from scratch by any known method and in various dimensional variations: CMEA, Muller, EMCO, etc. There are sensible presets for allowances, autograding for sizes, slices, and the ability to create designs for individual figure.
In a word, among the products of this developer there will always be something that will optimally match your sewing direction. Even if you have any kind of specific requests, managers will always go forward and consider individual wishes, which programmers will subsequently take up. Naturally, for a separately agreed fee.
Application Features
Users are very positive about this developer and specific programs for patterning clothes. The latter, although they require specific knowledge, are nevertheless understandable and easy to learn. In addition, the official website has a ton of training materials for each specific product.
Each individual program from this complex takes a different place on the hard drive, but not less than 100 MB. System requirements are not so strict (level i3, "Reisen 3"), but RAM should be at least 8 GB. Otherwise, terrible brakes will be observed.
The product is distributed under a paid license, and prices start at 30 thousand rubles and end at around 170 thousand. Local trial versions are not provided, but there are online designers where you can "touch" the main functionality and capabilities of the program.
Leko
The Leko complex was developed by the domestic company Vilar and also includes products of different levels and directions. The simplest - the basic version - is quite suitable for small or just starting sewing business organizations and enterprises.
It includes tools for creating standard and individual projects, where you can specify any arbitrary sizes. Here you can designate manual lines, select the layout of patterns for subsequent printing, or create complex grids for several sizes.
In the advanced version, marking patterns, the formation of allowances for seams and other tools necessary for the conveyor of medium workload are added. A complete modification includes all the necessary functionality for automating the work of large sewing enterprises with a ready-made database.
Complex Features
The program interface can not be called complicated or confusing, but even experienced users in their reviews sometimes complain about a high entry threshold. Nevertheless, the complex can be mastered quite quickly, because the developer has provided a lot of training materials in both text and video format. So there should not be serious problems.
Users respond very warmly about the Leko complex. It greatly facilitates the routine work and automates the process of creating clothes. The programs do not have any critical flaws, and the problems that arise are quickly resolved by patches and updates.
Distinctive features of programs
In addition, the Leko complex can be called one of the most undemanding products among other similar software. For the program to work correctly, you need about 50 MB of free space on your hard disk, 4 GB of RAM and a mid-range processor.
Products are distributed under a paid license, where the basic version will cost 70 thousand rubles, the advanced version will cost 100, and the full version will cost 170 thousand. There are also trial versions with limited functionality and no printing.
Valentina
The program for building patterns "Valentine", as in the previous case, is absolutely free. It is open source and was developed by a group of enthusiasts. The application is still supported and receives updates with due regularity.
The program allows you to create complete parametric patterns. It is enough to change the measurements and additions of any product from the base (you can add your own) - and in the end you get a completely individual project with its own dimensions.
Moreover, the process of constructing patterns is maximally simplified. The project itself is built on the basis of formulas, and using the local calculator table, we enter the necessary values and get the pattern with the required dimensions at the output.
Distinctive features of the program
The application interface is simple, intuitive, and getting lost there is very difficult. The official version of the product comes with English-language localization, but on the thematic sites you can find many variations of crack, and very sensible. So no problems with development should arise.
Users, especially amateurs and home seamstresses, speak very warmly about “Valentina” and its capabilities. For the entry level, this is what you need. There are no sophisticated tools and multi-level menu branches, but only everything you need to create patterns.
Utility Features
The application is completely undemanding to the system resources of the computer and will run even on outdated processors with 2 GB of RAM. True, in this case it will take much longer to wait for the result, but nevertheless it will work stably and will not fly out over trifles. The program takes about 50 MB of hard disk space and, unlike other similar utilities, does not load it with a lot of processes.
As mentioned above, the product is distributed under a free license, but the developers take it quite seriously. That is, they work with user feedback and carefully study the local book of reviews and suggestions. Also happy about the lack of advertising. Sometimes a banner pops up on the main screen asking for help in supporting the product, but there is nothing aggressive there.
Fanreal
This is a free product developed by freelance enthusiasts. For the most part, it is aimed at the “housewives” segment, rather than at professional and conveyor applications. Nevertheless, the program boasts impressive functionality and attracts its capabilities along with the simplicity of the interface and ease of use.
Here we have a lot of presets for creating patterns for individual women's clothing: dresses, coats, trousers, skirts and other styles. The application visualizes the project in the form of a familiar sketch and allows you to set the color of the product. Patterns can be created for any type of figure, as well as for individual sizes: choose a style, set criteria for freedom of fitting, and also adjust other dimensions of the construction.
You can figure out the program interface in a matter of hours, and in particularly difficult cases, an intelligent help system will come to the rescue, where all the features and tools are arranged, as they say, on the shelves. In addition, on YouTube you can find quite a few video tutorials that help you quickly master this application.
Product Features
Users generally respond positively to this program and its capabilities. But here we must not forget that this is not a professional level, and there is not much to demand from the functional. Sewers working at home, and other lovers, she is quite happy. Moreover, the output is very sensible printouts of patterns, so to speak, "mowing" to a professional level.
As for system requirements, there are practically none. The program will work well and stably even on an ancient computer. All she needs is a simple processor, 2 GB of RAM and 30 MB of hard disk space.