I looked into DIY vs Ditto before I decided to buy Ditto. I saw a video short about the cost of a DIY system, projector and mount, etc, and how much it cost. My husband and I are both senior citizens and don’t want the procedure of creating/installing a mount for a projector, whether it is permanent or “put up-take down” with each use. The cost given for a fairly simple DIY system was about $323 or something like that- so $399 sounded not so bad, and it was very easy to set up, and we found a place in my craft room where it can “live permanently”. The thing that was even more off-putting to me than physical setup was needing to figure out what software would be needed for the computer to control and manipulate the projector image, including calibration. Regarding BYOP, I figured out that you need to use something like PDF Stitcher to prep patterns for the Ditto. People say the subscription model is the deal breaker. However: in this video you mentioned using Adobe… are you referring to the Adobe Reader version that you can use to change PDF’s? I just found out while trying to get it for another kind of use, that this version of Adobe is only available by subscription. Gone are the days that you get the free “Adobe Reader” or can do a one-time purchase of the software and can manipulate images with it. The subscription for that is about $10 a month. I’m planning to learn PDF Stitcher. My philosophy is that yes this is a bit of prep, but once you get the pattern ready and usable, you can save it and use it again. Yes BYOP is in Beta, but I plan to give feedback so they can improve it. I’m frustrated because most of the opinions I am seeing are old, pre-price drop and pre-BYOP. Yours is the first one I found that is after both events. I would love to see a non-ditto employee use it, figure out the BYOP and create a tutorial on how to prep patterns for it. The “Ditto educator” says she cannot show how to prep a pattern with Stitcher or Adobe because Ditto doesn’t own those programs. The other frustrating thing is everyone wants to give opinions without actually buying one. Usually people buy something, test it out as completely as possible and then review it. So the reviews, in my opinion, are mostly opinions based on partial information, and/or preconceptions about the item, not actual use of it. I realize it’s “bigger” You tube channels that can afford to buy something just for testing. Thank you for at least actually showing the software side of it and reviewing it. I pay for subscriptions to things I think will be useful, so that factor alone doesn’t create an automatic NO for me, but I understand that for some people it does. If I can find a happy Ditto user who is doing tutorials for how to really use the BYOP that would be great. For now, I’ll do this in steps by learning Stitcher first.
Ditto may be the right choice for you. Proper have different needs and priorities and preferences. My intention is not to shame anyone for their purchase or anything like that but rather to make people fully aware of what they are purchasing and what the alternatives are. And that I, personally, unequivocally think the DIY option is the better option for oh so many reasons. To respond to a couple of things you said though: The cost for DIY set ups can really vary. I’d say $300-something is the high side based on the various set ups I’ve seen. That is much closer to the dropped price of Ditto but a very far cry from its original price of $800. And even the dropped price of $400 is about double what most people are paying for their set ups. The software we use most often on the computer to calibrate and project our images is the regular, free Adobe Reader. You do not need the subscription (though Adobe will try to make you pay for it). You can also use the free program called Inkscape but that does have a steeper learning curve. Adobe Reader cannot change PDFs. It can only read them. You can turn layers on and off on the screen to view or not view them but you cannot edit the PDF in any real way and save it in the free reader program. In order to actually change and save a PDF, you can use a different Adobe program, which is much more than $10/month, called Illustrator. Or buy a program called Affinity Designer, which you can buy once and not subscribe to. Or download the free program Inkscape. Those are all vector programs and allow you to really edit PDFs but can be confusing to use at first. PDF Stitcher is an amazing program (written by a brilliant fellow projector sewist, Charlotte Curtis-I interviewed her on my channel and have many videos about how that program works) and a really great option if you aren’t looking to edit the pattern and only need to turn layers off, add a border, broaden the lines, or change the line colors. Yes, once you get the pattern ready you can use it again and again. I’ve also got several videos on here about how I prep my patterns before projecting (which I don’t always do, but sometimes do, depending on the pattern and if I’m trying to conserve fabric, etc). The part about BYOP that is frustrating is that it’s more difficult to prep for the way it specifically works. It doesn’t allow for smooth scrolling. It splices everything in a really awful way. And many have tried to play the game of making it splice where they want and the Ditto app just doesn’t cooperate well with that. The Ditto Facebook group is a good place to see the many frustrations with that. With the exception of laying things out specifically to limit the splicing, my videos on PDF Stitcher and Affinity Designer should be helpful in learning those programs and how they can be helpful in preparing patterns. Many other projector sewists have similar videos using the Inkscape program. (But if you’re going to learn those programs anyways to do BYOP, why not learn them to DIY project?) I agree, usually people buy a thing and test it out before reviewing. But, in this case, I cannot justify spending $800 or even $400 on something I would not be using long term and would only be buying to review. (My channel makes less than $400/year, so it just isn’t justifiable. If someone would like me to do that kind of review and wants to send me one, I’d be happy to do that.) However, with as much research as I’ve done on the Ditto, having played with the app, and with my extensive use of a DIY projector, I feel extremely confident in my reviews (both my initial one and the one we are commenting on). Adam Pirillo of Pirillo Textiles has used both Ditto and DIY (you can find his comparison video on my Ditto playlist) and has said that my assumptions were exactly right and my review was spot on. I also pay for subscriptions when it makes sense to me. But it’s not quite the same. Canceling Disney+ doesn’t render my TV inoperable. Canceling Canva doesn’t delete everything I’ve created in the past. Canceling your Ditto subscription does make the BYOP option completely inoperable and only allows you access to any patterns you’ve bought/buy outright and you cannot ever use that projector to do anything but project from the Ditto app. It’s the way the subscription is tied to the only use of the expensive equipment that really turns many people, myself included, off.
@@DaileySewsStuff thank you for such a kind and helpful answer! I’m going to subscribe because you have a lot of information. In the back of my mind I have a feeling the Ditto projector might eventually die (as electronic devices often do), in which case I would try getting a cheaper short throw projector and try mounting it on the Ditto tension rod. I like the physical setup I have. So my hope for now is to be able to prep a PDF I already own, to use the BYOP, and if I learn that, it’s good training for using a DIY situation later. Before Ditto came down in price and had BYOP, I had started researching how to DIY it. But my head started to swim because it sounded so complicated, even though I am computer literate and have figured out a ton of things through the years. It seemed like there was info out there “about” projector sewing, but nobody had a step by step “how to”. Until I found you and heard of PDF Stitcher. So we shall see how this goes- Ditto will be what works, or it will be a sort of “gateway” into projector sewing for me. Just from using the Ditto I know I prefer paperless layout and cutting! I also plan to write the Ditto people to tell them how it’s going. One of their “educators” mentioned that they want to hear from users so they can steer the Beta BYOP in the right direction. Ok, I see that as an invitation and challenge! I think I’ll learn about PDF Stitcher first and try using that to try prepping a PDF for Ditto use. Unless you have a better idea.
I have a little update. I’ve watched some videos by you and Projector Sewing, and learned that in many (most?) cases, a digital pattern needs to be run through PDF Stitcher before it can be projected. For some things you need Affinity Designer. And that is for DIY projecting, not Ditto use per se. I barely know what I’m doing. But I’m having some success with Ditto BYOP. Many patterns I found or have had for years don’t have layers ,.. So you see all the sizes and cut out your choice just like with paper. Which I haven’t figured out yet on Ditto, because it only projects in white. So after seeing that, I looked for a pattern that has an A0 version with layers, and found one. First I put the pattern through PDF Stitcher. It showed up well on Ditto, but needed to be spliced (which I-want to avoid). Then I tried Affinity Designer. My goals were to 1.)turn on/off layers so only one size shows. 2.)Move pattern pieces and create a new “page” for each pattern piece, so splicing won’t be necessary. 3. make the pattern lines be 5-point thick for visibility (which I tend to forget to do) I did these things in A. Designer, and then exported the file as a PDF. It worked, but I made a mistake and had to redo it. I had zoomed in to see which pattern piece it was, then zoomed back out enough (I thought). But then when I projected, the 2” print scale square was 2-1/4”… at first I thought the projector was off, but it WAS the zooming. I started again with the original and made sure not to zoom. The print scale square was 2” then. But it was late so I just worked with front and back of the T-shirt on the same page, and rotated so pieces would be horizontal and front & back would be across from each other. This required a little splicing cuz I didn’t have the pieces close enough to each other (lousy Tetris!) But it worked and ended up a good tryout of splicing. Next time will be much easier. I still want to keep splicing to a minimum and if possible, in only one direction. I felt that prep for Ditto BYOP was no worse than what I’ve seen in prep for DIY. A. Designer was easy although it does have a learning curve and your vide helped a ton. Having one pattern piece at a time in the workspace works really well and is not hard to do. I just name each one “page - with the pattern piece name”, so I know what I have. There are probably shortcuts with these programs, but I’ll learn and it will get easier. Just wanted to update you. I got it to work well, and if I don’t zoom out the pattern, prep for BYOP is no worse than for DIY as far as I’ve seen so far. And it’s thanks to what I learned from you and Projector Sewing channel.
@polyesterbebe I'm so sorry! I deleted your comment, thinking it was spam after a quick read but then my husband explained it to me and it was actually a perfectly said commnet. 🤦♀ Again, I apologize.
Ditto probably isn't for every sewist. For me space is an issue for projecting and projector placement. Ditto can be used easily in my small condo and can be transported easily too. And the price has dropped to $399. (I got a refund from JoAnn's for $200 since I only bought mine in October.) There are certainly issues now while it is in Beta, but I'm hopeful that it will get better. Or 3rd party software will handle more of the issues with BYOP! And thank you for your video on PDFStitcher! That really helps with formatting my BYOP patterns for Ditto. I will attempt to do several files to eliminate many of the splicing issues. But yes, you will need to upload more files.
My personal opinion is that you can eliminate those same space issues with a DIY option for much less money and much more versatility. I’m glad Charlotte’s creation of PDF Stitcher has found another use! It’s such an awesome program!
I looked into DIY vs Ditto before I decided to buy Ditto. I saw a video short about the cost of a DIY system, projector and mount, etc, and how much it cost. My husband and I are both senior citizens and don’t want the procedure of creating/installing a mount for a projector, whether it is permanent or “put up-take down” with each use. The cost given for a fairly simple DIY system was about $323 or something like that- so $399 sounded not so bad, and it was very easy to set up, and we found a place in my craft room where it can “live permanently”. The thing that was even more off-putting to me than physical setup was needing to figure out what software would be needed for the computer to control and manipulate the projector image, including calibration.
Regarding BYOP, I figured out that you need to use something like PDF Stitcher to prep patterns for the Ditto. People say the subscription model is the deal breaker. However: in this video you mentioned using Adobe… are you referring to the Adobe Reader version that you can use to change PDF’s? I just found out while trying to get it for another kind of use, that this version of Adobe is only available by subscription. Gone are the days that you get the free “Adobe Reader” or can do a one-time purchase of the software and can manipulate images with it. The subscription for that is about $10 a month. I’m planning to learn PDF Stitcher. My philosophy is that yes this is a bit of prep, but once you get the pattern ready and usable, you can save it and use it again.
Yes BYOP is in Beta, but I plan to give feedback so they can improve it. I’m frustrated because most of the opinions I am seeing are old, pre-price drop and pre-BYOP. Yours is the first one I found that is after both events. I would love to see a non-ditto employee use it, figure out the BYOP and create a tutorial on how to prep patterns for it. The “Ditto educator” says she cannot show how to prep a pattern with Stitcher or Adobe because Ditto doesn’t own those programs.
The other frustrating thing is everyone wants to give opinions without actually buying one. Usually people buy something, test it out as completely as possible and then review it. So the reviews, in my opinion, are mostly opinions based on partial information, and/or preconceptions about the item, not actual use of it. I realize it’s “bigger” You tube channels that can afford to buy something just for testing.
Thank you for at least actually showing the software side of it and reviewing it. I pay for subscriptions to things I think will be useful, so that factor alone doesn’t create an automatic NO for me, but I understand that for some people it does.
If I can find a happy Ditto user who is doing tutorials for how to really use the BYOP that would be great. For now, I’ll do this in steps by learning Stitcher first.
Ditto may be the right choice for you. Proper have different needs and priorities and preferences. My intention is not to shame anyone for their purchase or anything like that but rather to make people fully aware of what they are purchasing and what the alternatives are. And that I, personally, unequivocally think the DIY option is the better option for oh so many reasons.
To respond to a couple of things you said though:
The cost for DIY set ups can really vary. I’d say $300-something is the high side based on the various set ups I’ve seen. That is much closer to the dropped price of Ditto but a very far cry from its original price of $800. And even the dropped price of $400 is about double what most people are paying for their set ups.
The software we use most often on the computer to calibrate and project our images is the regular, free Adobe Reader. You do not need the subscription (though Adobe will try to make you pay for it). You can also use the free program called Inkscape but that does have a steeper learning curve.
Adobe Reader cannot change PDFs. It can only read them. You can turn layers on and off on the screen to view or not view them but you cannot edit the PDF in any real way and save it in the free reader program.
In order to actually change and save a PDF, you can use a different Adobe program, which is much more than $10/month, called Illustrator. Or buy a program called Affinity Designer, which you can buy once and not subscribe to. Or download the free program Inkscape. Those are all vector programs and allow you to really edit PDFs but can be confusing to use at first.
PDF Stitcher is an amazing program (written by a brilliant fellow projector sewist, Charlotte Curtis-I interviewed her on my channel and have many videos about how that program works) and a really great option if you aren’t looking to edit the pattern and only need to turn layers off, add a border, broaden the lines, or change the line colors.
Yes, once you get the pattern ready you can use it again and again. I’ve also got several videos on here about how I prep my patterns before projecting (which I don’t always do, but sometimes do, depending on the pattern and if I’m trying to conserve fabric, etc). The part about BYOP that is frustrating is that it’s more difficult to prep for the way it specifically works. It doesn’t allow for smooth scrolling. It splices everything in a really awful way. And many have tried to play the game of making it splice where they want and the Ditto app just doesn’t cooperate well with that. The Ditto Facebook group is a good place to see the many frustrations with that.
With the exception of laying things out specifically to limit the splicing, my videos on PDF Stitcher and Affinity Designer should be helpful in learning those programs and how they can be helpful in preparing patterns. Many other projector sewists have similar videos using the Inkscape program.
(But if you’re going to learn those programs anyways to do BYOP, why not learn them to DIY project?)
I agree, usually people buy a thing and test it out before reviewing. But, in this case, I cannot justify spending $800 or even $400 on something I would not be using long term and would only be buying to review. (My channel makes less than $400/year, so it just isn’t justifiable. If someone would like me to do that kind of review and wants to send me one, I’d be happy to do that.) However, with as much research as I’ve done on the Ditto, having played with the app, and with my extensive use of a DIY projector, I feel extremely confident in my reviews (both my initial one and the one we are commenting on). Adam Pirillo of Pirillo Textiles has used both Ditto and DIY (you can find his comparison video on my Ditto playlist) and has said that my assumptions were exactly right and my review was spot on.
I also pay for subscriptions when it makes sense to me. But it’s not quite the same. Canceling Disney+ doesn’t render my TV inoperable. Canceling Canva doesn’t delete everything I’ve created in the past. Canceling your Ditto subscription does make the BYOP option completely inoperable and only allows you access to any patterns you’ve bought/buy outright and you cannot ever use that projector to do anything but project from the Ditto app. It’s the way the subscription is tied to the only use of the expensive equipment that really turns many people, myself included, off.
@pirillotextile hopefully, that tagged Adam and you can go directly to his channel to see his review.
@@DaileySewsStuff thank you for such a kind and helpful answer! I’m going to subscribe because you have a lot of information. In the back of my mind I have a feeling the Ditto projector might eventually die (as electronic devices often do), in which case I would try getting a cheaper short throw projector and try mounting it on the Ditto tension rod. I like the physical setup I have. So my hope for now is to be able to prep a PDF I already own, to use the BYOP, and if I learn that, it’s good training for using a DIY situation later. Before Ditto came down in price and had BYOP, I had started researching how to DIY it. But my head started to swim because it sounded so complicated, even though I am computer literate and have figured out a ton of things through the years. It seemed like there was info out there “about” projector sewing, but nobody had a step by step “how to”. Until I found you and heard of PDF Stitcher. So we shall see how this goes- Ditto will be what works, or it will be a sort of “gateway” into projector sewing for me. Just from using the Ditto I know I prefer paperless layout and cutting! I also plan to write the Ditto people to tell them how it’s going. One of their “educators” mentioned that they want to hear from users so they can steer the Beta BYOP in the right direction. Ok, I see that as an invitation and challenge! I think I’ll learn about PDF Stitcher first and try using that to try prepping a PDF for Ditto use. Unless you have a better idea.
@@gerriebell2128 PDF Stitcher is a great first step into this world. You’re gonna do great!
I have a little update. I’ve watched some videos by you and Projector Sewing, and learned that in many (most?) cases, a digital pattern needs to be run through PDF Stitcher before it can be projected. For some things you need Affinity Designer. And that is for DIY projecting, not Ditto use per se. I barely know what I’m doing. But I’m having some success with Ditto BYOP.
Many patterns I found or have had for years don’t have layers ,.. So you see all the sizes and cut out your choice just like with paper. Which I haven’t figured out yet on Ditto, because it only projects in white. So after seeing that, I looked for a pattern that has an A0 version with layers, and found one. First I put the pattern through PDF Stitcher. It showed up well on Ditto, but needed to be spliced (which I-want to avoid). Then I tried Affinity Designer. My goals were to 1.)turn on/off layers so only one size shows. 2.)Move pattern pieces and create a new “page” for each pattern piece, so splicing won’t be necessary. 3. make the pattern lines be 5-point thick for visibility (which I tend to forget to do) I did these things in A. Designer, and then exported the file as a PDF. It worked, but I made a mistake and had to redo it. I had zoomed in to see which pattern piece it was, then zoomed back out enough (I thought). But then when I projected, the 2” print scale square was 2-1/4”… at first I thought the projector was off, but it WAS the zooming. I started again with the original and made sure not to zoom. The print scale square was 2” then. But it was late so I just worked with front and back of the T-shirt on the same page, and rotated so pieces would be horizontal and front & back would be across from each other.
This required a little splicing cuz I didn’t have the pieces close enough to each other (lousy Tetris!) But it worked and ended up a good tryout of splicing.
Next time will be much easier. I still want to keep splicing to a minimum and if possible, in only one direction. I felt that prep for Ditto BYOP was no worse than what I’ve seen in prep for DIY. A. Designer was easy although it does have a learning curve and your vide helped a ton. Having one pattern piece at a time in the workspace works really well and is not hard to do. I just name each one “page - with the pattern piece name”, so I know what I have. There are probably shortcuts with these programs, but I’ll learn and it will get easier.
Just wanted to update you. I got it to work well, and if I don’t zoom out the pattern, prep for BYOP is no worse than for DIY as far as I’ve seen so far. And it’s thanks to what I learned from you and Projector Sewing channel.
@polyesterbebe I'm so sorry! I deleted your comment, thinking it was spam after a quick read but then my husband explained it to me and it was actually a perfectly said commnet. 🤦♀ Again, I apologize.
Basically, a world where only the super rich actually own anything and all the rest of us rent everything we need from them...
Yes. And you’re exactly right! I just read it far too quickly the first time. 🤦♀️
Ditto probably isn't for every sewist. For me space is an issue for projecting and projector placement. Ditto can be used easily in my small condo and can be transported easily too. And the price has dropped to $399. (I got a refund from JoAnn's for $200 since I only bought mine in October.) There are certainly issues now while it is in Beta, but I'm hopeful that it will get better. Or 3rd party software will handle more of the issues with BYOP! And thank you for your video on PDFStitcher! That really helps with formatting my BYOP patterns for Ditto. I will attempt to do several files to eliminate many of the splicing issues. But yes, you will need to upload more files.
My personal opinion is that you can eliminate those same space issues with a DIY option for much less money and much more versatility. I’m glad Charlotte’s creation of PDF Stitcher has found another use! It’s such an awesome program!