I'll refer to file formats and compatibility. If you've never used CAD before then you have to start somewhere. But these aren't the people who are asking me where to start.

Some people of course are already in industry and have used whichever software the company they worked for used. you just need a CAD program and to learn how to use it properly.

You guys really don't need comprehensive, costly fashion specific software. And most of these people already know how to make paper patterns. They want to make patterns digitally, print them at home and then use them to make clothes to sell. They have no interest in being a professional pattern maker or working with other members of the industry. Most tell me they simply want to get with the times, but really on discussion they're looking for a faster more efficient way to make patterns just for themselves at home. You have to get a clear picture of where you are at with pattern making right now, how good you are with computers and technology, how much time you have to allocate to learning something new (at home, from a book, going to a course etc) and what you really want to achieve by the transition. Now you’re going to hear a lot of people recommending a lot of different programs and always remember they're coming from various different backgrounds, different experience, different needs and different interaction with other parts of the industry. It’s better in my opinion to get used to manipulating patterns on paper first … but of course, that’s up to you. I’m not fond of steep learning curves, but most fashion colleges do this … and many of their students don’t cope. If you’ve never made patterns on paper and you want to start out in CAD then you have twice as much to learn at the same time. And no one is more pleased to hear that than me! If you already know how to make a pattern on paper then the transition to CAD is really no more than learning new tools. If you’re reading this it’s most likely because you’re interested in starting the transition from paper patterns to a CAD program … you want to start making digital patterns.

Online cad program