A major change to MPD was released today and we hope everyone will take a look and share your thoughts about it with us and anyone you know that might be interested in automated pattern drafting software but has not yet tried MPD.

The new version includes some minor improvements, a handful of new patterns, and two huge new features. The new patterns are derivatives of the denim jacket pattern, with its yokes and panels and slimming style lines. That style shaping has been incorporated into every jacket, vest, tunic, or coat group available in MPD. While the jacket may look familiar, the other variants should prove interestingly new and we hope fashionably appealing.

The first of the major new features is that those that own Dress Shop patterns should now be able to import those into MPD and get an MPD pattern that drafts and has an appropriate set of MPD options. You can use your MPD tools and settings on these patterns and get the benefit of the improved MPD drafting processes for a better fit and better look. There is no charge for using the Dress Shop patterns that you already own. You will need to get the latest Dress Shop 7.02 update and export your owned Dress Shop patterns to be able to use this new feature. While many of the Dress Shop patterns are duplicated or replaced by the similar MPD patterns, there are still some unique patterns in Dress Shop that just do not fit into the MPD menu system. This pattern import feature will let you bring those patterns into MPD if you wish. There are a very few patterns that will not illustrate or draft properly and we will be working on those in future updates. But, the vast majority of the Dress Shop patterns do work well in MPD using this feature.

The other major new event is release of MPD Basic, a free software version of MPD. It has a basic set of options - way more than any paper pattern could eve offer, but considerably less than what MPD Standard or Pro owners are using. You can now see at a glance just which options come with each version. Every option dialog shows every option available in Basic, Standard, and Pro. For users that do not own Standard or Pro, those options are disabled and highlighted to make instantly clear what comes with an upgrade and how the versions differ from one another.

We hope that the new MPD Basic will appeal to others that have not yet tried MPD. So, please share with your friends, bulletin boards, blogs, and newsletter groups that this free service is now available and is a terrific way to try out MPD. Owners of MPD Basic can buy one pattern. Or several. Or a collection. Or many. Or upgrade to more tools. Or not. It is totally flexible and it is available today.

There are links from the MPD home page that describe the differences. Take a look and tell your friends!