Digital Fashion Pro – Clothing Design Software | Design Your Own Clothing

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Fashion Design – Fashion Illustration – Top Ways to Design Apparel

Fashion Design & Fashion Illustration – All About The Art of Apparel Design + Q&A

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The art of fashion design and fashion illustration are required skills to be a fashion designer. According to Wikipedia, “Fashion design is the art of application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories.” Wikipedia also states that, “Fashion Illustration is the art of communicating fashion ideas in a visual form that originates with illustration, drawing and painting…It is used mainly by fashion designers to brainstorm their ideas into paper or computer, using digital software.” The true goal of fashion illustration is to be able to accurately communicate your design ideas to others (manufacturers, your team, clients, retailers, etc.) according to Michael Harper, Co-Creator of Digital Fashion Pro Fashion Design Software.

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Within these two broad terms there are smaller categories with each having their own objectives. For instance, fashion sketching is a part of fashion design and fashion illustration. However the goal of fashion sketching is usually garment, accessories, footwear or jewelry based. Fashion Sketch rendering brings all of the elements together that go into a specific design. These elements could be things like prints, buttons, artwork, zippers, fabrics etc. The Fashion Sketch will embody each of these design elements. Creating the artwork, print or textile design elements fall under the global category of fashion illustration and fashion design.

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Fashion Design - Fashion Illustration - Design Graphic T-shirts and Leggings - With Digital Fashion Pro Clothing Design Software -1kw

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Drawing Ability – Is It a Must?

Do you have to know how to draw to get into fashion design? Yes & No

Programs like Digital Fashion Pro do not require drawing skills.

Is Hand Drawing Preferred In The Industry? No

Hand drawing is great for showcasing artistic ability but using a digital design program is a requirement to be a fashion designer as stated by The US Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics. Digital Design Programs are the standard because of their clean lines, easily transmittable, ease of making changes to them, easy to store, easier to create a more realistic view of the design that mimics real life, cuts down on wastage when it comes to getting samples made & production. There are more reasons but this list is just to name a few.

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Fashion design - fashion illustration - apparel design

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Digital Programs For Designing Clothing

There are many dedicated fashion design programs and general graphic programs that can be used for fashion illustration and design. Most digital programs are capable of achieving the same professional results however the road in which you achieve those results varies. Example – with most programs you have to go to school to learn them or learn them on your own.  So with that being said, there are many deciding factors on which program to use. Factors such as preference, features, capabilities, ease of use, up front cost, long term cost, learning curve and your fashion goals come into play.

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Another deciding factor is that although most can achieve similar results but at the same time some more than others can help you personally achieve professional results a lot easier. Keep in mind that just because a program can be used for designing clothing and fashion design does not mean it teaches you exactly how to create your own professional fashion sketches. This is one reason why Digital Fashion Pro stands out because it teaches you exactly how to design clothing. The DFP programs combines customizable templates, digital fabrics and fashion design course wrapped in one. Also consider that a program like Digital Fashion Pro allows you to easily design jeans, dresses, t-shirts, sneakers, heels, boots, jackets, coats, swimwear, suits, hoodies, rompers, handbags, hats, underwear, socks, button shirts, blouses and baby clothing. With most of the other programs you have to first learn on your own how to design these items whereas with Digital Fashion Pro you get the tools to do so right out the box.

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Using fashion design software is a must in fashion design. It opens up so many options to use fabrics, textiles, prints, artworks and more in your design. It is also easy to swap these items in and out in seconds to create the best versions / collection for your line. These things are hard to achieve when drawing by hand and take considerable time and effort. It is always fine to doodle your design ideas while you are on the go but when it comes to preparing your designs for commercial application, a digital design program is imperative.

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Designer Denim Floral Jacket - Heel - Clutch - Created With Digital Fashion Pro - designed by Michael Harper w fashion design software

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Here is a list of the Top 5 Digital Fashion Illustration Programs That Can Make Professional Fashion Designs:

  1. Digital Fashion Pro Fashion Design Software – Complete Design System
  2. Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator – General Graphic Program
  3. Corel Draw – General Graphic Program
  4. Browzwear – Fashion Design Software
  5. Opitex – Fashion Design Software

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Note: The above programs all can generate professional fashion designs. Digital Fashion Pro goes beyond and gives you additional tools and training out the box that can actually help you learn fashion design as well as be in position to create professional fashion sketches. With Digital Fashion Pro you will be able to create your own designs within minutes.

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Digital Fashion Pro - Adobe - fashion illustration - fashion design - design clothing

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Fashion Illustration – Practical Use

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One key element of fashion design and illustration is the generation of artwork that will be used in and on a garment. Fashion artwork has many applications and practical use. Artwork can be used for embroidery, screen-printing, sublimation printing, heat transfers, appliques and 3d printing. Artwork can also be the driving force / inspiration that goes into hangtags, labeling, prints, textiles, garments, handbags, shoes and more. A great fashion design could mean millions of dollars in profits. Fashion design is big business as the fashion industry generates hundreds of billions of dollars a year in profits in the USA alone according to a US Senate Member. With the social nature / reach of the internet – it is now possible for any fashion designer to engage in global business.

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Fashion Sketches – Bringing All Your Design Elements Together

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Fashion sketches are a vital part of fashion design and fashion illustration. A fashion designer must be able to convey their design ideas. Fashion sketches can be divided into a few sub-categories:

1 Hand Drawn Fashion Sketch (mainly for artistic purposes or being a first draft)

2 Digital Fashion Sketch (Often function as blueprints in commercial design)

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You can further look at fashion sketches based on the objective of the sketch:

1 Artistic – (just for showing artistic designs but aren’t necessary for production or function as a blueprint – can be both types)

2 Commercial application – (meaning it is used in the manufacturing process – Digital Fashion Sketches)

3 Use In A Designer Portfolio or Design Showcase (Can be both types of sketches)

4 Use for catalogs, lines sheets, spec sheets, investment tools, (Digital Fashion Sketches)

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Create your fashion designs with Digital Fashion Pro Fashion Design Software - model edition

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Designing a Clothing Line & The Role That Fashion Design Plays

Fashion Design & Illustration are critical components when designing your own clothing line. Fashion Design is the foundation of any clothing line. It plays a part in virtually every aspect of running a fashion line. Whether it is designing a t-shirt, button or even a hang tag – professional fashion illustration is a must. In large companies, there are many hats to wear under the fashion design umbrella. You can have titles like: menswear designer, women’s wear designer, t-shirt designer, children’s wear, couture, costume designer, accessories designer, technical designer, graphic designer, textile designer, footwear designer, chief creative director and more. When you are an independent line, you may be responsible for each of these duties where applicable.

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Is It Possible to Start a Clothing Line Without Going to School For It? Yes

Is there help for people who want to start their own line but do not know how to draw or how to get started? Yes

There is help for people who want to start their own clothing line but are true beginners. One such resource is the Fashion Mogul Clothing Line Start-Up Kit from StartMyLine.com.

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Designing Denim Jeans with Digital Fashion Pro

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Learn more about how to create your own professional illustrations here >

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Article by Michael Harper, Co-Founder of StartMyLine.com

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Citations & References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion_design

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion_illustration

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/fashion-designers.htm#tab-2

https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/democrats/reports?ID=034A47B7-D82A-4509-A75B-00522C863653

https://startmyline.com/dfp/

Fashion Magazine – Styles Created With Digital Fashion Pro – Designer Clothing

Fashion Magazine – Styles Created With Digital Fashion Pro – Designer Clothing Sketches

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Fashion Magazine - Digital Fashion Pro - Fashion Design Software - Cover

Fashion Magazine - Fashion Designer - Fashion Design Software - Digital Fashion Pro - Designer Dress

Fashion Magazine - Fashion Designer - Fashion Design Software - Digital Fashion Pro - Designer Boots

Fashion Magazine - Fashion Designer - Fashion Design Software - Digital Fashion Pro - Designer Clutch

Fashion Magazine - Fashion Designer - Fashion Design Software - Digital Fashion Pro - Designer Heels

Fashion Magazine - Fashion Designer - Fashion Design Software - Digital Fashion Pro - Designer Jacket

Fashion Magazine - Fashion Designer - Fashion Design Software - Digital Fashion Pro - Designer Jean

Fashion Magazine - Fashion Designer - Fashion Design Software - Digital Fashion Pro - Designer Skirt

Fashion Magazine - Fashion Designer - Fashion Design Software - Digital Fashion Pro - Designer Sweatshirt

Fashion Magazine - Fashion Designer - Fashion Design Software - Digital Fashion Pro - Designer Sneakers Shoes

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Learn More About Designing Your Designer Clothing Collection With Digital Fashion Pro Software.

Design Advice For New Clothing Lines

I tried to figure out how to jump into this article without coming in splashing but for some reason I could not find the angle to soften my position. This is a message geared toward new clothing lines. In today’s marketplace, it is more important that you take design chances that go beyond slapping the name of your clothing line across a generic T-shirt or Sweatshirt. Often new designers who may be low on funds, but at the same time, they want to get their feet wet in the fashion industry, will just buy blanks and write their clothing line name across the front. While you may think your name sounds so good that it alone will sell your shirt; you may just want to think again. Most of these type of styles will only appeal to people you know. The chances of your line being picked up by clothing stores is pretty slim to none. The hottest stores will more than likely decide to pass on carrying your t-shirt if you just have “Blah Blah Apparel” across the front.
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I would really urge you to do some real designing that goes beyond just typing your name across the front of a blank. Actually design the hoodie itself by adding your own special seams, cuts, stitching, colors, fabrics etc. If you are going to work with blanks then make sure your artwork is fantastic! Make sure consumers can see your design aesthetic. Prospective buyers want to know that you are a serious designer and you take the art of fashion serious. Even having one spectacular piece will take you miles ahead of the person with the white T-shirt with “Blah Blah Apparel” across the front in black. I have bought t-shirts from plenty of unknown companies just because I like the artwork or maybe the shirt itself had a special design detail.
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Be creative when you design. Have fun with it! Study how to do specs and choose fabrics. Order a small production run of the style and have it made from scratch. The key to fashion is to stand out. This process makes you a genuine clothing line. It is a rite of passage. People always you say how they loved our tees. We had a special formula for our fabric that was delightfully plush and felt so good against the skin. Then we added creative artwork on top of that. It was and is still a beautiful combination.
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If you want to go beyond just a cult following of friends, family, neighbors or an organization you belong to, then you need to really dive off into your creativity. I remember when we started our first clothing line many years ago. We came out of the gate swinging by designing our own contemporary athletic wear line from scratch. We put much emphasis on the actual garment design which led to our line getting the immediate attention of magazines and retailers around the country. The garment design came first and our name came second. That is the order of importance that every new designer should seek. Putting your name on a blank just doesn’t cut it and it will not get you noticed. Even coming out with a slogan driven shirt is better than just only putting your clothing line name on a shirt. You could even do a sublimation design that has a full coverage print on the shirt.
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How to design your own clothing
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There are millions of prospective buyers that want to be on the cutting edge of fashion. They don’t mind investing in pieces from unknown designers as long as the designs are unique and cool. That uniqueness has to go beyond just your brand name. You are virtually unknown at this point. Your brand name carries no equity. They can buy a hundred unknown t-shirts with a random brand name across the front of it. There is nothing in this type of design to make your line stand out. Give them a reason to say, “I really like this design, I want to rock this.” That is how you get trendsetters on board to reach for their credit cards and buy your new style.
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Don’t try to tie in a cause or charity into your plain t-shirt company with your brand name across it to get people interested in your line. That my friends is not building a clothing company. That simply is working to support a cause. I can’t tell you how many times I come across a company trying to do this because they think giving people added motivation will help people pull out their wallets to support a weak design. If you are a fashion company – then fashion comes first!
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Create a beautifully designed piece from top to bottom and then it is okay to add that you support a cause etc. When you design, ask yourself – “Would a fashion magazine editor or fashion blog feature this piece in their hot new style feature based solely on my design?” This statement just means that if you have a shirt with your name plainly wrote across the chest, it is not very fashion forward. We had a few magazines feature 2 of our very first 4 styles we released. The reason was because we did a very fresh take on a current fashion trend which made our pieces garner attention. All in all, this is not to say that your brand name should not appear anywhere on your design. It is just stating that your brand name should not be the star of the show.
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Ideas For Making Your T-shirts Stand Out
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1. Have it manufactured from scratch fully designed by you
2. If you have it manufactured you can have different cuts, multi-color body, stitching etc.
3. If you have it made from scratch you can really add your own touch
4. If you have it made from scratch you can then add your graphics for greater impact
5. If you have it made from scratch you can pick some great fabrics
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Ideas to Make Your T-shirt s Stand Out If You Are Just Adding Your Designs to Blanks
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1. Do something very creative with the artwork design on the chest and the back
2. Use Sublimation Printing on Full Front, Full Back or Both
3. Instead of plain ink etc. – used a raised 3d print technique for your artwork
4. Add patches and actual labels
5. If you have a nice logo – focus on the logo
6. Add other artwork  elements around your name on the design
7. Come up with artwork featuring a catchy slogan
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Fashion Design Advice.
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Look at the image I put up of the Harper Apparel T-shirt. You have to ask yourself, why would people care about my t-shirt? Sure, my mom loves it. Sure my friends may love it. But why would the retailer downtown love it? Would a customer in another country love it? Would a fashion magazine editor find your piece editorial? Why would they care? If you have to begin your story talking about your personal struggles, or that you don’t have experience, that you are self-taught, or that you are just doing the t-shirts to promote a cause then you have not given your designs a life of their own. The method of just putting your plain brand name across the chest probably only works for celebrities. As an ordinary person or line, you are held to a higher standard when it comes to design.
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Often new designers think they need many pieces and a large collection to break into the fashion industry. In reality, you should focus on one style and become great at it. For instance, if you do jeans – do jeans. If you create t-shirts – stick to t-shirts. Don’t try to do too much because it will prove expensive. Narrowing your focus will help you keep cost down as well as allow you to become an expert of the style you choose. For example, say you decide to use the same dress silhouette over and over but you add beautiful prints to each rendition. People will love you for your beautiful prints and you will establish an identity for your brand. Then from there you can branch out. In close – Stand Strong In Your Design & Creativity and You Will Be One Style From Touching The World!
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how to start your own clothing line
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Article by Michael Harper of StartMyLine.com

Digital Fashion Pro Review – An Inside View

Digital Fashion Pro Review – An Inside View

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We wanted to take a little time to give you an inside review of Digital Fashion Pro Fashion Design Software Program. In case you don’t know Digital Fashion Pro is a fashion design tool that helps many fashion designers design their clothing collections and create their garment sketches. This review is not about the features of the program because you can read about those on the Official Page for it. This review is about what makes it a great program to use.
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The first thing to know is that it is highly affordable especially for a tool that delivers professional results. Consider the fact that many other programs cost more and some even have monthly and yearly fees. With Digital Fashion Pro you pay one time and you have a lifetime license.
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The next thing is the program is more than just a software. It comes with a fashion course / basic fashion design training that really teaches users how to create professional fashion sketches. Many times you can look at the sketches or artist renderings and wonder how easy or hard is it to make the same thing. With Digital Fashion Pro it is a guaranteed that you will be able to make professional caliber sketches right after training. 
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Digital Fashion Pro comes with customizable garment templates. This is really awesome because it gives you a framework in which to create your designs from for uniformity. But the other cool thing is all of the templates can be stretched, shrunk, modified, altered etc. so that you can make the design your own. This also cuts down on repetition in the design process. For instance, do you want to keep drawing the same jean outline over and over just to add your design or a new fabric choice? Or do you want to be able to have the framework set and you just proceed right to the design aspect.
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Another awesome point about Digital Fashion Pro that users and we love is how you can incorporate digital fabrics into your design. While certain pages come with more fabrics it is also terrific that you can add your own. For example say you have a certain print that you are using for your collection. What if you have a certain fabric or knit that you will using for the season? Once these items are scanned in or are already in digital format – you can easily incorporate the fabric or print into your designs. This allows you to see how the design will look on a garment.
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How to design your own clothing
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To further the last point, you can also add artwork and logos. So if you have a logo or artwork you can put it on the templates. This accomplishes two things – you can see how the logo will look on the garment. The 2nd thing is you can play with placement and scale. Both of these points come in very handy and are almost impossible to do by hand unless you have a lot of time on your hands.
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Another benefit of Digital Fashion Pro is how it helps you plan your collection. You can experiment with so many different elements of your design from color choices, fabric choices, logo placement, slogans etc. It helps you with selecting which version or versions of your designs you want to produce. Just recently I was designing some Tees and had a few versions. I asked a few fashion bloggers which one they liked the best and interesting enough – they all chose the same one. That told me that was the one I should produce. Interesting side note; the one they chose was not the one I was originally going with. Having multiple versions and the ability to share them with others allowed me to get better feedback on which design I should invest in.
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Jean Design - Digital Fashion Design Infographic - how to design jean sketch
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Another point about Digital Fashion Pro is you will be creating manufacturer-ready sketches. This is important because manufacturers prefer cad sketches over hand sketches. There are many reasons for this including digital sketches are cleaner, more professional and in many cases represent the vision more accurately. This allows the manufacturer to have a better understanding of the design so that they can make it with a better degree of quality. Also keep in mind that with Digital Fashion Pro you will mostly be making detailed practical designs that resemble how a garment will actual look. Compare that to many hand sketches that mostly are to promote the artistic ability of the artist with sketches that are artistic in nature. For manufacturing, artistic sketches are not the standard or recommended. Practical designs that help a manufacturer or sample maker know how the design should really look are the most helpful. Detailed computer sketches are the standard in manufacturing.
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The fashion design course aspect of Digital Fashion Pro actually goes beyond basic training. Users learn so many useful things about design and designing a clothing line. While there is the basic training which is very detailed, there is also additional advance training that teaches some really cool design techniques + basic graphic design. Again for the price, what you learn and all of the features – Digital Fashion Pro is a steal. Digital Fashion Pro puts users in position to create professional sketches which I believe is the most important benefit.
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Digital Fashion Pro must have upgrades are Beyond the Basics (Technical Sketches), Style Pack (More garment styles), Digital Fabric Library, Mega Vector Art Pack, Designer Series 1 and 2. These are some of my favorite upgrades. The Designer Series templates are really neat. This series mostly follows current fashion trends and have templates with a little more detail and most are styled. When you add fabric and design to them they look really nice. 
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Fashion design software - how to draw digital fashion sketch drawings
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Digital Fashion Pro Video

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 More About Digital Fashion Pro & How It Works 

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These are just a few reasons why I love Digital Fashion Pro. Of course there are many ways to create a sketch. Digital Fashion Pro is one of the best ways to do it. It is super easy to use even for beginners which is another plus. I highly recommend it especially for beginners who are starting a clothing line. The example sketches speak for themselves. See what other clients say about Digital Fashion Pro. 
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For More information on Digital Fashion Pro visit the Official Digital Fashion Pro Page.
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Review by John Thomas