I am a graphic artist who worked in the sign business 10 years ago. Although I am still working in graphic design I have been out of the sign business for enough time that I am not familiar with the new software and sign cutters for the vinyl sign businesses of today.
I am thinking of adding signs back into my design business and was looking for suggestions. I currently operate a Mac and was curious to find out if anyone out there is using macs on this board? If so what software do you suggest, and what plotter would be a good entry level cutter? Are there any good printer/cutters that would be suggested for an entry level price?
Because I work on the Mac and have a lot of money already into software (Illustrator, Photoshop, GoLive, etc.) I really would like to stay in this environment, but I am open for any suggestions.
Thanks!
Posted by Rick Chavez (Member # 2146) on :
OS9 or OSX? Set up on a older G3 or G4 or G5? Fot the Basic Set-up I suggest Magi-Sign and either a Summa or Graphtec, they are set up with USB and they are good plotters with decent support. Flexi for OSX is coming out soon, but really not needed if you are just adding to your design services. Magi-Sign is a plug-in and is great for Illustrator.
Gerber also has a plug-in for thier plotters and Edge printers, but that is a chunk of change and something you can sub-out.
Posted by Christy G (Member # 4583) on :
Rick,
Thanks for your quick reply. I am running a G3 with OSX. I was actually looking at Magisign last night. What are the limitations of this software, say compared to Flexisign? Are you operating on a mac?
Also is one of these plotters (Graphtec/Summa) better than the other? I just don't want to get stuck in the "biggest waste of money on equiptment" post:)
Any input is welcome,
Thanks!
Posted by Rick Chavez (Member # 2146) on :
If you are only doing vinyl signs and know Illustrator well, or making paint masks or attachmant patterns and not doing vinyl cutting 24/7, Magisign is a great plug-in.
I personally think Flexi is not needed, for a few reasons, propriatory extensions, which means exporting to an ai file for your print stuff, dongles which can bug out your system (yes Magisign-has one), support, which is bad, and Flexi is basically a glorified Illustrator, the only thing I really use it for now is the great envelopes, but I don't use them enough to justiify it's 4,000.00 dollar price, you can do it all in Illustrator 10 now, though admittidly not as clean. The Production Manager is great, when I did engraving at a shop I worked at, it was easy to send jobs to whatever device I needed to,but that was in a high production place, for the small shop, that is overkill.
As far as plotters, I have an older Graphtec (3100 series), I bought it from someone who got out of the business, and it works great, I have used Summas at 2 places and they were abused and constantly worked to death, I was very impressed, this was the "T" series, either way, you can't go wrong.
Posted by Greg McRoberts (Member # 3501) on :
I'm running a G4 with MagiSign and have no complaints at all. I tried using Flexi and couldn't get it to run at all with my new system. Came to find out THEY (Flexi) even said it wasn't compatible. Definitely WAY overpriced for what you get, and support sucked big-time. I sent it back after screwing around with them for 4 weeks.
If you're on a Mac and know how to use Illustrator, stick with MagiSign. Support has been decent and really not needed very often at all.
As for cutters, I have a Summa T-750 which I love to death and has been a no-break workhorse. When I did have a question, their support has been teriffic. Graphtec makes a really good plotter also.
