Manually digitized text, software options

hi, if you are only doing "some" it might be much more cost effective to use a local digitizer, or any digitizer for that matter?

But if you are insistent on doing the work yourself and really think all you would use is lettering ability.. then I would suggest going to a local sewing or quilting center where they sell home embroidery machines.... they have software that is under $2000 and some Way under that... which would work just fine for hand punched lettering.

Hope this helps,

Manually digitizing text is not that easy. I agree with Robert in sending it out to someone. There is a learning curve in digitizing and if no one instructs you on the process, you will be greatly frustrated.
Most programs used today are scanned in and computer generated. They do not always allow for push and pull. O's come out smaller then an N right next to it, so letters are uneven.
Since I use a digitizing board, I manually digitize letters allowing for the push and pull. I only sewout the design once. When I first started digitizing 16 years ago, I hate to tell you how many times I had to sew out a design before it was usable!

You don't mention anything about the machine to sew them out on. Do you need to buy this also?

You say you want to do both fabric and paper. If too many stitches, paper will tear. One must really know what the are doing.

I agree. You'll need a machine so you can sew-out your trial works. Watching a machine embroider designs is one the best ways to learn how to digitize. Embroidering on paper is very different than fabric.