The one question we are asked more often than any other is... "How does Generations compare with other brands of digitizing software?" 

There is a big challenge for us in answering that question.  The challenge is not that we can't tell you the differences, but that telling you the advantages is much harder than simply showing you what Generations can do. 

So I will SHOW you how Generations compares!

At the bottom of this page you will find a simple form that you can use to get access for free to our videos showing what it's like to use Generations.  From here you can choose to read the rest of the information on this page or skip right down to the bottom and sign up for the videos. 

How Does Generations Compare To...

Holly owns almost every major digitizing program on the market today including Generations, Artista, PE-Design, Palette, Drawings, MasterWorks Pro, Viking 4D Pro, Embird Suite, Origins and probably a couple others I can't think of right now.  With all those programs to choose from, she uses Generations every day.  

If  there was a different program that made better designs, was faster, or would more easily acheive great results, then Holly would have been using the other program all these years instead of Generations.  We just became Generations dealers in August of 2009.  She's been using Generations since it was first introduced to the public back in 2003.  SO for a period of 6 years she had no reason to use Generations other than the fact that it's that good!  

If you look in our design library and in our Premier Designs store as well as on other sites where Holly's designs are sold, you will see designs made using Generations.  All the designs here that start with "ATG" were made by Holly using Generations.  (That's what the "G" stands for in the design name.)  Also, the designs that start with ATM and ATC were made with Generations by students that Holly has taught to use Generations. 

Which Software For A Beginner?

Someone recently emailed Holly and said... "I am just starting out in digitizing.  Should I buy an inexpensive program to start with and see if I can learn to digitize with it before I buy Generations?"

There are a couple problems with doing that and I will explain them here along with a better idea for you to consider. 

Having good, easy to use software is half the battle! 

I can't tell you how many times I did something like that with other hobbies until the truth dawned on me one day.   For example, when I started in the ham radio hobby about 30 years ago I bought a used $100 transmitter and a used $75 receiver.  I spent over a year trying to get that old 1950's stuff to work.  Finally I spent $350 on a good modern radio and was on the air enjoying my new hobby.  I could not sell the old 1950's equipment so I lost the $175 I laid out trying to get by cheap. 

And I lost the enjoyment of my new hobby for a year while I was frustrated by what happened when I tried to get by cheap.

You would think I would learn from that experience - but no...

Years later Holly wanted to get into the sewing so we bought a used Sears sewing machine for $400.  She tried and tried to use it and finally one day I walked into her sewing area and found her sitting there in tears.  The machine had ruined the project she had spent hours working on.  I immediately drove her to a nearby sewing machine store and we brought home a nice Bernina machine.  It cost $1200 back then.  But it worked great.  No more tears.  Lot's of fun.  But I lost the $400 I laid out trying to get by cheap. 

And she lost the enjoyment of her new hobby for several months while she was frustrated by what happened when I tried to get by cheap.

You would think I would learn from that experience - but no...

Several years later I wanted to get into the hobby of skeet.  So I bought a cheap shotgun...  and you know the rest of the story.

My point... don't buy solely on price or you'll lose the money you paid for the cheap thing as well as the time spent in frustration trying to make it work.

There Is A Smart Way To "Do It Cheap"

If you're a beginner and you're not sure digitizing is for you, don't try learning on "cheap" software and get frustrated by the experience!  We can offer you a full working test drive version of Generations+ software for $99 for one month.  That way you can learn with software that really works!  And we'll help you learn too. 

If you decide that DIGITIZING IS FOR YOU, then we will deduct the $99 you already paid from the cost of Generations+ software.  And you will already have learned how to digitize with Generations!

If you decide that DIGITIZING IS NOT FOR YOU, then it only cost you $99 and you know you've worked with the best available instead of wondering if you could have succeeded by using good software instead of cheap stuff.

Remember When I Said...

"Having good, easy to use software is half the battle"? 

What's the other half? 

Having a readily available source of information and someone that can help you when you get stuck.  That's the other half of what we offer here! 

When you buy the "Generations Test Drive" or "Generations+" from us you also get someone who will help you learn to use the program.  

You get online videos showing how to use Generations. 

You get online webinars teaching how to digitize with Generations. 

You get a forum made just for Generations that is answered by Holly every day. 

You can attend live in-person seminars around the country. 

You get one-on-one time with Holly if you want a private lesson.

How Does The Cost Compare?

"Generations Plus"  is the 128 box of crayons!  It includes all features and modules Generations makes.  And the cost is $1,999 for the complete program. 

Other digitizing programs offered at dealers often sell from $2,000 to $2,500 currently.  Plus the cost of...  "updates"

What Are "Updates"?

When Holly started digitizing she bought PE-Design "Version 3" for $800.  Since then she has paid several hundred dollars for an update to version 4.  And several hundred to update to version 5.  And several hundred to update to version 6.  And several hundred to update to version 7.  It will be several hundred more to update to version 8.  

Can you guess what will happen when version 9 comes out in a year or so... ? 

The total cost she paid for PE-Design and all the "updates" over the years has been way more than Generations cost!  In fact, we've added up the receipts and even though she got the original program for only $800, the total with "updates" comes to $2,900 now.  

The same thing has happened with Artista digitizing program.  She started with version 3.  And paid for an update to version 4.  And paid for an update to version 5.  And will pay several hundred more for an update to version 6.  And this software was priced higher than Generations to start with when it sold for $1,899 back in 2005.  Now with all the expensive "updates" she will have paid a total of $3,200 to get from version 3 to version 6! 

Holly has had Generations since it first came out in 2003 and in all those years she has never had to pay a single penny for an update!  When you add up the total cost of the other programs with "updates", it's easy to see that Generations really is a great deal.  With Generations you get a great program that's easy to use, someone you can learn it from, and you're not paying more money every time you turn around for an "update".

None of the numerous updates from Generations have cost anything during the whole time!

Compare that cost of $0 for updates from Generations with the other programs she also owns. 

Why does Holly bother to update the other programs?  She tells me it's because she is a professional digitizer and has to know what the other software will do.   Okay...  I guess I can buy that.  But I think it's really all about the 16 crayolas she had in grade school.  Jim Englehardt had the 64 box.  Funny how this stuff sticks with you for the rest of your life.  :-)

About a year ago Generations offered an entirely new module called "Expanded Formats".   It was not mandatory that you buy it.  They offered it for $200 to anyone who wanted to be able to export designs into lots of new formats but they would continue to support and enhance your copy of Generations whether you added the new module or not.  Of course Holly had to add the new module but it was totally optional.  And today when you buy Generations+ that new module is included with the program.

What about "Usability"?

If you already have another digitizing program and have tried to learn how to use it but it makes no sense... welcome to the club!   I did a survey of our newsletter readers in July 2009 and found that out of over 4,000 people who read my newsletter and own digitizing software, less than 800 of them could digitize a design with the software they currently own without looking up how it's done... again.  

You won't have that problem with Generations because you WILL learn to use this software! 

When you buy Generations from us, you will get Holly's digitizing video called "The First 7 Clicks" for free.  Anyone can learn to go through the 7 clicks it takes to create a simple design!  Heck, even I was able to memorize that many steps and repeat it without looking at the video again.  And that's a great place to start.  Click - click - click - click - click - click - click.  Done.

You'll also learn from Holly how to take that "7-click design" and fancy it up a bit.  Or you can fancy it up a lot if you want to.  If you own Generations, you can digitize.  It's that usable.

But Generations is more than a simple auto-digitizing program.  It is a full-blown manual digitizing program too.  As my dad used to say "You can run with the big dogs" when you're using Generations!

If You Already Own Another Digitizing Program...

I know that most of us are not happy about buying a program then finding out that it wasn't what they thought it would be.  Maybe it's not as easy to use as someone told you it was.  And maybe there just isn't a teacher within a hundred miles of you.  And maybe there are bugs in the program that you already bought. 

But you can't just throw away the money you already spent on that other software!  It's just wrong!   I know how you feel.  I'm the same way.  I hate to spend good money on some program and then not use it afterwards.

  If You Already Own Another Digitizing Program

You'll Really Like This Part Best!

Most of the time we can take your old software in on trade as a "competitive upgrade" when you buy Generations from us!  

"Trade-Up" values range from $250 to $1,000 that we deduct directly off the price of Generations software!  So that $1,999 price starts to look really great when you can take anywhere from $250 to $1,000 off for trading in your old software!

Call me for details and I'll look up the trade-up value for your current program.  My number is 847-946-1342 and ask for Larry Pike.

Ready for those free videos showing how Generations+ really works so you can compare it to your current software?