Do any of you know about computer programs for designing and printing clothing patterns? I have found a few but they obviously are geared more toward industrial production. I want something for home use. I read about FashionCAD but it lists for $1,200. I realize that CAD programs will cost me but not THAT much. Can anyone steer me towards something that is less expensive?

Howdy. I should have said the programs name is Punch! Ultimate Deck "and Landscaping". Sorry about that. All of the .phd files I located came up with the same message: "This does not appear to be a SketchUp model!" I think SketchUp is a Google program. Right? I had the Punch program a long, long time before loading SketchUp on my computer. Could the .phd file extension now only belong to Google, and that's blocking Punch files? Mikie, before originally posting I tried maybe a couple of dozen programs (using your method) to see if they could open the .phd files. Nope! I tried SketchUp, too, and got the same message. I wonder what is meant when it refers to "model"? You guys have made me think that somehow SketchUp might have become the designated default program for all .phd files. I look for more blocks to check. Since Punch won't respond maybe I'll send a note to Google's SketchUp section and see what comes from that. I appreciate everyone's help. Gene

Maybe check out this thread on another forum: Here is a link that might be useful: Design Software discussion

I agree with Hilary. A new program should be easy to use and have an assortment of colored mats in changeable colors and patterns. Often times it is REALLY hard to find mat colors that match your photos. Fonts should be of different styles as there are already stickers available for the simple styles. I also would go for the hard to find images for die cuts, such as race cars, bikes-(I don't know why this is such an under produced item, every child I know has had at least one bike, especially BMX bikes. My son had well over 15.) motorcycles, tv's, computers-lots of christmas gifts are these items, Cds, fake money, birds, large flowers with good graphics, etc. These are just a few of the items I have found hard to come by. As for cutting out the shapes, they have to be big enough that they are not a royal pain to cut out and small enough not to dwarf the pages. Heritage items are another biggy. If you did a section devoted to black and white die cuts ( or the darker muted colors like maroon, dark green, or gold and silver) with items from every decade, starting at the 1900's to present for example: the old gas pumps, ice cream palors, old cars, the different wars American's have fought (this would be a big seller since MANY of the older photo shots were of men in uniforms,) a rosy the riveter page, memorial tribute pages etc... These items are almost impossible to find, and yet millions of photos were taken during these times and scrapbook makers are now having a hard time finding die cuts, pages or stickers that fit those eras and photos. I too would be willing to test drive any new software or be a guinea pig for ideas. Penny