I just picked up the new Artistic Digitizer from my dealer. I've been waiting for this because it will run on either a Mac or Windows and I use a MacBook. I've only just installed it and am reading the manual now. So many features! It connects directly to Janome machines with USB, and also by wifi for the 15000 and S9. Appears to read and write every format, including making cut files for cutters. There's no dongle. You have to type in a couple of numbers from a little plastic card that comes with the software to activate it. Comes on CD, but instructions are included to download if you don't have a CDreader.

Saw someone post this on another site:
First, it has not officially launched yet. The launch date is January 30th. This is Janome Artistic Digitizer. Dealers were told about it's coming in August but the release was backed up due to a Windows update while they were shooting numerous video tutorials for it. So I don't think I'm breaching any kind of confidentiality or anything. Janome wanted to make sure that the videos (screen shots) would match what the customer saw, so they re-shot quite a few of them and made some other changes. Dealers just got notice of the release date and the ability to order it on Tuesday.

#1 and this is a biggie: Windows and Mac compatible!
#2 60 video tutorials included.
#3 Janome took a look at the embroidery software industry and realized they were expensive compared to some other alternatives and worked to lower the price significantly. MSRP is nearly half of what it had originally been planned.

Finally, there is a Jr version coming in April. Its launch was pushed back so they could focus on the full version when the Windows update happened.

Found this and videos for it too: https://www.janome.co.jp/e/e_downloads/artistic_training.html
: https://www.janome.co.jp/e/e_news/index.html  

There are so many videos for this that I don't understand how it's a new program... maybe just an update?

@Pat, not that it matters a hoot, but perhaps Janome (Janome USA) took up with Artistic Creative and when it became clearer that that Janome were/are moving away from using their services for future commissioned software, Wilcom released Hatch.
Janome is a manufacturer of machinery and Wilcom's business is writing embroidery software.

I love all 3 of my Janome machines and the technical support from the people at the Stockport Unit in Manchester (UK) has been excellent but I've learnt a lesson with machine Brand digitising software.

For quite a while I've used Janome branded digitising software but with the most recent package I have experienced an ongoing issue that needs some technical enquiry to identify the cause & solution.  As it's Janome branded I have to go through Janome as a company for technical support = big black hole.   
I suppose that Branded digitising software is a minuscule part of Janome's business so the lack of interest/action over issues in their commissioned software packages doesn't surprise me.
Anyway, I am seriously considering avoiding Brand commissioned software and moving over to Hatch.  I understand that Hatch is a newly written programme, rather than a refurbished front end built on top of old programming and that bodes well for it's future.  The business that writes the software has a direct interest in supporting and improving it and from (even limited) personal experience I know that Wilcom's technical and customer support is both interested and responsive.  I'm inclined to believe they are more likely to be invested in taking notice of their customer base than a machine Brand company that doesn't write the software.

It will be interesting to hear about how the Janome Artistic Creative software package performs and I do hope that Janome will be more responsive and takes action on any customer issues with the software in a better and quicker manner than it has with any of their commissioned software in the past.
Also it will be interesting to hear about the experiences of those who use different packages as they're ideally placed to compare the pros and cons.
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SparkleFever

I have totally missed this "branded" software connection and what you wrote certainly makes sense.  Always being Janome-loyal I have kept my Digitizer up-to-date thru many, many years. Having said that I also received a program free with my Longarm that is fabulous and then I was able to purchase an embroidery module for it so it's fully functional and has wonderful support with classes galore in many places -- it has become my "go-to" software.  Some high-end digitizing software programs do not charge EVER for upgrades, so once you buy it, all upgrades are free. I have paid for Digitizer over again with the years of upgrades at $500 per pop. This is not a complaint, just an observation. So I've decided if Janome doesn't charge for upgrades, then I'll probably bite -- otherwise I won't. JMHO

I know I am way behind with digitizing as I still have digitzer MBX. Do you still get upgrade pricing if you get this new Artistic Creative program? How do I find out what the price is for the Artistic Creative? I just don't know if it is something I really need. I do pretty well with my regular digitizer program. I would need to compare the actual reasons in order to make a decision to spend more on a program. Is there a chart somewhere to see the differences?
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Randi Kemper
Magical Machine Embroidery

There is no upgrade path from Digitizer MBX to Artistic Creative. It's a completely new product, unrelated to the Wilcom-produced Digitizer series. Suggested list price for Artistic Creative is $1,199 USD. As with all products, individual dealer prices will vary, as will the various country pricing. Artistic Creative will be released on the 30th of this month, though there are many leaks online. I would assume there will be a chart at that time. Given the time that most people have invested in learning the original Janome Digitizer (Wilcom), I don't see much value in jumping to the new one. To me the compelling use case would be someone who does not have digitizing software, particularly if they are using a Mac. At this point we have no reviews, only speculation about an unreleased product, and minimal information from leaks. I would recommend sitting back and waiting for the official unveiling. This new digitizer is from the same company that did AcuDesign and the Artistic series of software. I don't much care for the user interface in AcuDesign, but the Artistic software for the Janome cutter is medieval-level torture to use. I'm hoping that this new software is a big improvement on both of these products.

Hi all
You might go to Janome global as they have videos on different functions of artistic creative
I have artistic suite & digitizer 5.0 so once weather & time permits I am gonna look to see what difference there are!
What I know of artistic suite I would stay w mbx 5.0
Kaye in la

Sent from my iPhone

Thanks for your comments on the “medieval” comment on Artistic software because it is so true. I’m wondering if the new will be just add ons to what is already in the previous program - if so it is a disaster in my opinion. It is NOT at all easy to use and the sequencing is absolutely hopeless if you have more that a half dozen thing to move about, as you just can’t see enough in those horrible trays. We’ll just have to wait and see what comes in the new Artistic digitizing software.

Cheryl - Saskatoon

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Thank you,
Meryl

The Artistic Creative digitizer is NOT a Wilcom product. We won't know how it compares to MBX (or Hatch) until January 30 when it gets officially released.