Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:00:19 PM)
Welcome tonight's special event.

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:00:25 PM)
Tonight we are going to discuss: "Digitizing Olypmics"

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:00:32 PM)
Our guest tonight is Kelly Ragland, with A Stitch On Time

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:00:39 PM)
Most of us know him as "Rags"

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:00:53 PM)
Well Rags... Digitizing Olympics have officially started. Are you excited or scared?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:01:05 PM)
Busy busy busy!

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:01:11 PM)
Excited, yes

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:01:31 PM)
So why don't you go over what has happened so far

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:01:45 PM)
Sort of bring us up to date

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:02:00 PM)
There have been several late registrations from digitizers since launchine the first event

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:02:15 PM)
we are now up to 25 from 6 different countries

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:02:24 PM)
fantastic

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:02:56 PM)
do people have to do all the events or can someone start now?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:02:56 PM)
I am anxious to see how the judging goes, and see the different styles from all of the participants

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:03:12 PM)
How many judges

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:03:19 PM)
Digitizers can chose which events they want to participate in

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:03:25 PM)
5 judges

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:03:55 PM)
Judges for this event will receive a free stock design of a Patriotic Mouse

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:04:04 PM)
So register now if you havent already!

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:04:16 PM)
sort of like catnip... baiting them huh?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:04:28 PM)
Rewards for hard work judging ;^)

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:04:51 PM)
No sponsors have stepped up yet, so I offered the design this round

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:05:00 PM)
can you still accept participants for the current event?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:05:26 PM)
Yes, but the deadline is now about 24 hrs away for design deadline

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:05:43 PM)
judges can register until sunday

Incaqueen (Nov 6, 2001 10:05:47 PM)
Where does one register ?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:05:48 PM)
for this event

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:05:59 PM)
http://www.DigitizingOlympics.com

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:06:15 PM)
Use the registration page, it posts real time

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:06:30 PM)
but if someone doesn't get in this month's event there are more... right?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:06:32 PM)
then the designs will be available for you to judge next week

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:06:42 PM)
Right, one a mionth

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:07:39 PM)
so what's this month's ?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:07:41 PM)
The results should be awesome

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:07:59 PM)
this month is the Small Lettering competition

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:08:07 PM)
The design features a Rose

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:08:09 PM)
I liked the "rose"

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:08:15 PM)
as the year 2002 is the year of the rose

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:08:39 PM)
Hopefully that will start a nice design collection for embroiderers

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:08:49 PM)
Why don't you explain exactly what "Digitizing Olympics" is?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:08:55 PM)
that the Olympics events will be generating

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:09:14 PM)
Recently digitizers have been almost run completely out of business due to overseas pricing, extremely low stock design prices in the market, and design piracy/sharing throughout the on line community. I also have seen the need for embroiderers to develop better resources for finding digitizers and designers that suit their business needs, as well as educate themselves in the difference between good and great embroidery designs.

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:09:23 PM)
All that said, the Digitizing Olympics were born. I feel like this concept will bring embroiderers and digitizers together to achieve great results from digitizing, embroidery and business relations that are made as a result. I brought this web site to the on line community and the embroidery industry out of the passion I have for embroidery, and the needs I share with others to bring the value of embroidery back up to where we as professionals feel it should be.

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:09:31 PM)
I have great confidence in this web site and its direction. I feel it will benefit digitizers and embroiderers alike, and possibly bring quality embroidery back to a higher level.

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:10:38 PM)
As the events continue, Digitizers will gain exposure sharing their talents

Incaqueen (Nov 6, 2001 10:10:48 PM)
Way to go Rags!

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:11:10 PM)
and embroideres can take advantage of a one-stop shopping web site when looking for a digitizer with certain abilities or techniques

Ruth T (Nov 6, 2001 10:11:18 PM)
will we retain the rights to the designs we digitize even though the art work is being given to us to digitize?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:11:55 PM)
The Olympics site will retain rights to the art, and the designs will be available to the public as an example of the digitizers abilities

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:12:35 PM)
I am anxious to see the variety of interpretations of the art.

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:12:52 PM)
It will truly show this is very much an art and not a science

Ruth T (Nov 6, 2001 10:12:56 PM)
That sounds fair.

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:13:03 PM)
I intend on covering alot of areas of design

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:13:29 PM)
The event categories tell how we will cover all facets of the digitizing process

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:14:00 PM)
This month's is Small Lettering... what are other topics you will be covering

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:14:14 PM)
Cap Detail and Registration

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:14:22 PM)
Jacket Back

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:14:29 PM)
Shading and Blending

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:14:37 PM)
Floral Designs Digitizing from Photography

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:14:44 PM)
Animal/Fur Design Rendering

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:14:57 PM)
Photograph, (oops)

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:15:06 PM)
3D Foam Design

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:15:17 PM)
Whew... you are covering a lot of territory!

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:15:20 PM)
There will be an oportunity for a freelance entry as well

Incaqueen (Nov 6, 2001 10:15:25 PM)
What about Leather?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:15:29 PM)
creating a design from art to finish

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:16:06 PM)
In thinking over the possibility leather event I thought

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:16:17 PM)
with the judges being asked to sew on the specific material

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:16:26 PM)
that the digitizers are asked to punch for

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:16:34 PM)
that could get tedious

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:16:59 PM)
Also there are quite a variety of leathers... not all will react the same

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:17:01 PM)
That would require changing needles and getting material

Incaqueen (Nov 6, 2001 10:17:24 PM)
What software will you be covering?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:17:53 PM)
Digitizers use their software, and the events are not software specific, only talent

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:18:39 PM)
It is the digitizing results we are judging, not software

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:18:49 PM)
How does the judging work? How do we get to see the results?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:19:07 PM)
Judges will download the designs, which are numbered

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:19:22 PM)
each number represents a digitizer, they will not know which

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:19:55 PM)
they are asked to sew the designs out according to the design specs, (material, backing) and return to the site to critique them

Ruth T (Nov 6, 2001 10:20:06 PM)
Do we get any input as to how our own designs are graded?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:20:17 PM)
There are about ten elements they judge on a scale of one to ten

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:20:35 PM)
After the judging you see whos design is which

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:20:46 PM)
and the judges comments and grades

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:21:08 PM)
then the medalists will be announced in the new Winners Circle chat room

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:21:24 PM)
and a new event will be on the horizon

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:21:26 PM)
So there are 25 participants this month, meaning the judges have to sew out and critique 25 designs each?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:22:02 PM)
If all 25 are doing the small lettering event, that would be the case. I am not sure how many are doing this one, it could be two, it could be ten

jeanj (Nov 6, 2001 10:22:15 PM)
This is my frist time to visit the site

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:22:29 PM)
The digitizing Olympics site?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:22:31 PM)
Digitizers can chose their strong events and skip ones they are not confident in

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:22:43 PM)
Is there an overall then?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:22:50 PM)
Overall?

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:23:26 PM)
Is each month's event separate, or are the ganged together to get an overall winner?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:23:38 PM)
Each is seperate

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:24:07 PM)
July 2002, there will be an election of sorts by the embroidery public as to which digitizers they want to see in the finals

Eurika (Nov 6, 2001 10:24:16 PM)
Will we get a feedback on our designs?

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:24:43 PM)
So between now and July it is sort of like preliminaries

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:24:51 PM)
The judges form includes a comment area, and the grades on pathing, runability etc....

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:25:23 PM)
Yes, November through July are preliminary events, the finals are in August with the Embroidery Olympics

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:26:13 PM)
The plans for Embroidery Olympics are coming along quite nicely...

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:26:21 PM)
have three teams already

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:26:31 PM)
Lets hear about whats happening on that project!

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:26:46 PM)
you're getting tired typing huh?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:26:51 PM)
lol

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:27:05 PM)
Well the Embroidery Olympics is a single event

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:27:23 PM)
by that I mean it happens at a single time

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:27:58 PM)
It will be held as a "live" event in Nashville, TN at the Grand Ole Opry hotel

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:28:33 PM)
For the 2002 Digitizing Olympics Finals, artwork will be distributed on line and on site and will reflect the theme of the 2002 EmbroideryOlympics being held at the same location. There will be one design per finalist, distributed randomly and containing design elements of one or more of the preliminary categories.

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:28:51 PM)
That should make for a great event!

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:29:01 PM)
Current plans include "live" web cameras and a video recording

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:29:44 PM)
a Cable company is currently talking about recording it for broadcasting

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:30:04 PM)
ESPN? he he

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:30:25 PM)
Thats super

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:30:33 PM)
Won't mention cable name quite yet... but it is one of the big ones

lisa (Nov 6, 2001 10:30:40 PM)
do digi's sweat?

Bobber (Nov 6, 2001 10:30:50 PM)
Will you be able to download the winning designs with critiques to see what makes a well digitized design?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:30:59 PM)
Yes

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:31:12 PM)
Another benefit to the Olympic events

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:31:24 PM)
It should be very educational for embroiderers

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:32:23 PM)
During these Embroidery Olympics will be the finals for the Digitizing Olympics

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:32:41 PM)
That Friday Night we will have an award ceremony for the winners.

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:33:29 PM)
is there a theme announced yet?

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:34:00 PM)
The Theme for Embroidery Olympics will be announced 30 days before the event.

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:34:08 PM)
July 2nd, 2002

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:34:43 PM)
The teams come up with their own art based upon the theme for 2 of the 3 projects

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:34:59 PM)
The Left Chest design art will be provided.

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:35:14 PM)
The jacket back and "art" pieces are up to the team.

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:35:52 PM)
The teams of 3 people have to develop, digitize, sew and present all three finished pieces in 8 hours.

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:36:03 PM)
All in a days work

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:36:29 PM)
there is a supervisor for each area, that will watchdog the event

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:36:51 PM)
things like each thread breaks will count against the overall score.

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:37:15 PM)
this is truly going to be an Olympic sized challenge of an event

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:37:24 PM)
Sounds like it!

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:38:03 PM)
Because the teams have to provide EVERYTHING, machine, software, computers...etc.. we have a Cash Prize for the winning team of

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:38:08 PM)
$10,000

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:38:46 PM)
there will also be prizes for each category and runners up

BayDog (Nov 6, 2001 10:39:03 PM)
Do teams have to be made up of people from the same company?

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:39:14 PM)
NO, not at all

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:39:35 PM)
you want to have a great team made up of complementary people and talents

lisa (Nov 6, 2001 10:39:49 PM)
where is this event being held?

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:40:13 PM)
Held August 2nd in Nashville TN

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:40:33 PM)
next to the Embroidery Mart that is happen at the same time

BayDog (Nov 6, 2001 10:41:06 PM)
The finalists for the digitizing olympics, do they have to bring their own equipment also?

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:41:26 PM)
Rags... that ones for you

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:41:34 PM)
Yes, if they are going to be onsite

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:41:52 PM)
if you cant make it on person, you can still participate online

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:42:07 PM)
and watch the event via web cam

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:42:20 PM)
They bring just the computer/software not a sewing machine right?

BayDog (Nov 6, 2001 10:42:24 PM)
have trailer, will travel!!

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:42:31 PM)
Right. I will have a single head there

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:42:41 PM)
scanners, all that

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:42:46 PM)
just bring your systems

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:43:41 PM)
Digitizing Olympics is for a single person entering as a Digitizer,

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:43:44 PM)
Embroidery Olympics is a team event covering the whole field of embroidery

lisa (Nov 6, 2001 10:43:48 PM)
Can I be the Sportscaster?

lisa (Nov 6, 2001 10:43:57 PM)
;-)

BayDog (Nov 6, 2001 10:44:13 PM)
Lisa, our own Bob Costas!

lisa (Nov 6, 2001 10:44:47 PM)
hee hee

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:45:26 PM)
For details on Digitizing Olympics go to

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:45:29 PM)
http://www.DigitizingOlympics.com

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:45:47 PM)
For details on Embroidery Olympics go to

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:45:59 PM)
http://www.EmbroideryOlympics.com

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:46:45 PM)
As you can tell this is a wide geographical event

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:47:01 PM)
as Rags said he has entries from 6 countries so far

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:47:23 PM)
so we are using the Websites to provide all the details and results

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:47:28 PM)
Thats exciting isnt it

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:47:39 PM)
exciting and scary.

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:47:49 PM)
Embroiderers worldwide competing in the love of stitching

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:48:00 PM)
that is exciting....

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:48:12 PM)
pulling it of behind the scenes is the scary part

BayDog (Nov 6, 2001 10:48:17 PM)
I can't wait to see the interpretations of the same design

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:48:18 PM)
I hear that

odie (Nov 6, 2001 10:48:22 PM)
rags for your november design 2002 Year Of The Rose does this design have the black background in fill stitches also, that would be a high stitch count.

Eurika (Nov 6, 2001 10:48:25 PM)
Very exciting!!!!

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:48:55 PM)
Yes, I did that because the design is for knits, and small lettering would be more embroiderable on a fill

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:49:04 PM)
and I thought it looked OK too ;^)

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:49:37 PM)
I want to have nice looking designs without making the digitizing too tough for the olympians

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:50:16 PM)
to me, a hight stitch count design (well, up to 10K) is still a profitable one in any shop that sells embroidery

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:50:29 PM)
especially if the design looks great

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:51:04 PM)
Are there size specifications with design art?

odie (Nov 6, 2001 10:51:07 PM)
good point

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:51:10 PM)
and we are looking for results, talent, and technique

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:51:28 PM)
so some designs may be higher than others

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:51:49 PM)
stitch count wise, but all should be great embroidery with elements we all face every day

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:52:16 PM)
Yes, size and color specs, material and recommended sewing specs

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:52:39 PM)
There are two factors in judging as well

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:52:47 PM)
Two elements

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:53:01 PM)
Technical merit, and artistic merit

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:53:22 PM)
Is it a good embroidery design? Or does it knock your socks off? ;^)

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:54:01 PM)
This event of course should focus on the quality and runability of the small lettering

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:54:35 PM)
and we should see a nice display of how many ways a rose can be digitized as well

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:54:48 PM)
technical merit, artistic merit

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:54:55 PM)
So all entries will be displayed

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:55:11 PM)
Yes, and the medalists will be featured on a medalists page

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:55:16 PM)
That way...

BayDog (Nov 6, 2001 10:55:21 PM)
Sounds like figure skating

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:55:41 PM)
Figure skateing with your mouse and fingers ;-)

lisa (Nov 6, 2001 10:55:43 PM)
Look at that Sou Cow!

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:55:51 PM)
if you like one digitizers technique better than another, even if they didnt place you can still see the work and know they might be of service some time

BayDog (Nov 6, 2001 10:56:10 PM)
mine are already tired from the double klutz, I mean lutz

lisa (Nov 6, 2001 10:56:34 PM)
lol

BayDog (Nov 6, 2001 10:57:52 PM)
Are there prizes too?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:58:36 PM)
No sponsors have stepped up yet, so.....

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:59:08 PM)
I am offering the judges a free stock design, and I will be giving the medalists a certificate sublimated on a mouse pad to get started

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 10:59:22 PM)
I have some medals picked out, just need to get the program rolling

BayDog (Nov 6, 2001 10:59:30 PM)
That's cool

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 10:59:57 PM)
Can people still sign up for this month's event?

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 11:00:00 PM)
It is a really cool mouseppad ;^)

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 11:00:07 PM)
Yes

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 11:00:19 PM)
Judges can register for the remainder of the week

lisa (Nov 6, 2001 11:00:21 PM)
I think it would be nice to have some sort of coverage so that the winners could use it as a press release locally

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 11:00:34 PM)
Digitizers should hurry the deadline is tomorrow evening

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 11:00:40 PM)
Well another hour has flown by, and we need to conclude the moderated portion of this session.

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 11:00:50 PM)
Well I don't know about you, but that was just about the fastest hour in history... super event Rags!

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 11:00:58 PM)
You can reach Rags: Rags@A-Stitch.com

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 11:01:07 PM)
Or for more information visit the website at: http://www.DigitizingOlympics.com

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 11:01:11 PM)
Digitizers are welcvomme to send a press release to the magazines, local shops etc...

Rags (Nov 6, 2001 11:01:16 PM)
Thanks Alan!

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 11:01:24 PM)
Thanks for being with us tonight.

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 11:01:36 PM)
That is the conclusion of tonight's event, a transcript will be posted to the Embroidery Industry Calendar within the hour.

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 11:01:42 PM)
Please stay and chat, it's just that the moderated format is no over, and all questions will go to the screen immediately.

Alan (Nov 6, 2001 11:01:49 PM)
Thank you for your support of the EmbroideryMall.

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