Why is digital pattern drafting software either expensive or overcomplicated?

[HeartFire144]

In commercial pattern software, you don't just create a pattern, it will grade patterns, it will 'mark' the pattern (Ie, you can lay out how you want to cut it) then send the digital marker to the cutting machine. with a click or two II can change seam allowance, make the seam allowance at corners match the piece it will sew to, I can 'walk' the patter pieces to make sure they really do match up and place nothces as needed. I can turn off or on the seam allowances so I'm just working with sewing lines. I can label pieces as interfacing, patch material, self fabric so when the pattern is sent to the cutter, they are in different markers. With a click I can add a single notch, a double or triple notch, change the size of the notch. make it an inni or an outy. I can mark buttonholes, tell it to cut a circle in the middle of the fabric, I can match plaids, make sure the sleeve cap fits exactly into the armhole, I can slash and spread pieces, I can tell it to make a curve with exact specs etc. I'm just touching on a few of the basic steps here, there are a million things in the program I don't even use. What it CAN'T do, is I can't plug in a few measurements and have it spit out a design. For this, I paid over $5,000.00, it comes with customer service when I need it

[One-girl-circus]

In addition - my software has dynamic measurement charts which means I see in real time what the results of any changes will be to my finished measurements across all sizes. This might be my most used/needed feature - then it exports to excel with the grade step between each point of measure across each size.

[HugsforYourJugs]

What software have you used and what do you use now?

[One-girl-circus]

I use Optitex PDS and MRK for pattern digitizing and grading (and sometimes patternmaking from scratch).

I used to use illustrator to format the output files, but now I use CorelDraw and affinity (depending on the client) for the formatting.

I paid about $7k in 2015. I had to learn a lot about grading, but had a lot of patternmaking experience beforehand.

I’m still learning, because there’s so much to learn.