I am green to computer graphics and want to pick you brains for info on:
What plotter uses a pounce wheel? or do they?
What software would I buy, what do you guys think of when you want to purchase sign making software?
I'm sort of worn out using assorted projectors and correcting the patterns and pouncing by hand.
Thanks ahead of time! Mike
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
ROLAND plotter COREL software....all you need.
Posted by Mark M. Kottwitz (Member # 1764) on :
Unfortunately, if you ask 10 different sign guys, you will get 10 different answers.
The thing about us is once we use a particular product, such as a program, or a plotter, everything else is "junk" in our eyes. And thus the debate will rage on.
Personally, I like CAS Mate (a now defunct program). I still use it a pretty good bit, but I use Corel X3 more. (I used to like to create in CAS Mate, and if the customer wanted a layout of how it looked, a pretty picture, I would export to Corel, fill in the colors, and give to the customer).
I like Corel, but there are a few things that it won't do, like a true outline. (OK, with a little work, it will do outlines, but that takes 6 or 7 steps, and C/M does it in one click). But you can get an add on program that will do outlines, shadows, etc. (Signtools, CoCut, Etc.)
Personally, I prefer Summa plotters. They are easy to operate, are well built, and are an all around good plotter. I do some subcontract work for a company that has a Roland Camm-1, and I don't like it as well, because it takes some work to get it to run. (Load vinyl, lower arm, hit buttons to get it to recognize that the vinyl is loaded...) With Summa, you just load the vinyl, lower the arm, and it goes to work, and Summa tends to track straighter, in my opinion.
I don't have a Summa, but I have a Roland PNC-1800 that I picked up for a really good price (so good that I couldn't turn it down).
The best bet is to go to a trade show, or pick up a trade magazine, and start looking. Once you find a couple of brands you like, check with your distributor to see the brands in action.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
I like Corel, but there are a few things that it won't do, like a true outline. (OK, with a little work, it will do outlines, but that takes 6 or 7 steps, and C/M does it in one click). But you can get an add on program that will do outlines, shadows, etc. (Signtools, CoCut, Etc.) i have no problem making outlines in corel...same steps as in CASMATE!!!! only time i ever had a problem with doing an outline was ....i installed a demo of SIGN TOOLS....had to reformat drive reinstall corel and it worked again.
Posted by Miles Cullinane (Member # 980) on :
Joe, Mark. I use signtools all the time and no problems. I use Corel X3 and if you do the Ctrl, Shift and Q it converts the outline to curves but also leaves an inline inside the object or lettering. I find the Signtools easier and more accurate.
Michael, I remember being green to computers too, a long time back and 4 machines ago.
I started with Corel 4 then 8,9,12 now X3.
I have a Roland CX24 which meets my need but would love to have one that can pounce as well so I will be watching this thread to see who says what.
Corel would be my suggestion for you and one big reason would be the amount of help you'll get from folks off this board with it.
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hiya Michael, Most of the better plotters should have some sort of pounce feature. However, I'm only familiar with using Gerber plotters for pouncing and their machines use a pounce wheel versus other methods. As far as I understand, the other methods used for pouncing can consist of the installing a special point in to the plotter and it bounces up and down, poking holes in your media. Software is really your own personal preference. While there are some advantages to "sign" software, just about any vector graphic design program should work. Corel and Illustrator are probably the most commonly used and some plotter manufacturers include plug-ins or "bridge" programs that sends your designs from either program to the plotter. As Miles mentioned there are also full featured programs that enhance using these graphic design programs. I'm not very familiar with them though.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
Cory, I do true sepearte outlines all the time in Corel. You do your outline using contour. I use the layers feature. I place the letter on one layer and the letter and the contour on the other. When the second layer is cut, the outside and the letter is weeded leaving a true outline. It can't get too much easier than that.
Posted by Michael Heaton (Member # 7731) on :
Hey you guys! I'll look into Corel this weekend. Ya know, I was lettering a 4x8 yesterday and it was cool thinking I have a community out there I can sort of hang with. Kind of weird but I've never met another sign painter (27years) except one day in Olympia years ago while buying 1 Shot and the poor guy had a severe hangover Really happy to be here!
Has anyone bought a plotter off ebay?
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
i bought 2 ROLANDS.....np
Posted by Mark M. Kottwitz (Member # 1764) on :
quote:Originally posted by George Perkins: Cory, I do true sepearte outlines all the time in Corel. You do your outline using contour. I use the layers feature. I place the letter on one layer and the letter and the contour on the other. When the second layer is cut, the outside and the letter is weeded leaving a true outline. It can't get too much easier than that.
Perhaps I should have been a little more clear in my verbage...or maybe I don't completely understand what ya'll mean. When I say a true outline, I know you can change the pen thickness, and there is the contour feature, but I have not had any luck nailing it down to get exactly what I am looking for.
When I say that CAS Mate is easier, in my opinion it is. The outline feature is located under the hypergroup tab up top. you just select which type of outline you are after, and with some minor adjustments on the screen, there it is.
I have asked the question in the past about is corel able to to a true outline, and I got some great answers. (That tread is located here )
quote:Originally posted by Michael Heaton:
Has anyone bought a plotter off ebay?
That has been covered before, in fact Nevman was asking about an e-bay plotter, and Bruce Evans bought one, and said he would post how well it worked, and would let us know. I had'nt heard anymore on that.
[ June 11, 2007, 08:45 AM: Message edited by: Mark M. Kottwitz ]
Posted by Dana Stanley (Member # 6786) on :
Michael, I bought a plotter last year and it is the easiest thing in the world to run. It came with software called cibercut and it is a simple sign cutting and drawing program. It does out lines and drop shadows with one click. The whole package is 1500.00. It is sold threw a company called Signpile.com. Used to be under a different name. The plotter is APD used to be Anagraph.
It can cut vinyl, plot drawings,cut heavy sandblast stencil (500 grams of down pressure), pounce, and even engrave. To pounce and engrave there is an optional kit it cost around 300.00. The only other thing except for some material you would want to get to start is vector art which can be had for 150.00 on line.
I did need to talk to some one when I first got it , and actually was able to talk with an engineer who helped develop the plotter it self. Hows that for support!
It's a 24" plotter but can do 48' signs by panneling. It is a very intuative program. It can scan and convert to bitmap, and vectorize. Terms I knew nothing about a year ago. Good luck feel free to call me if you have questions. I am reativly new to the sign buiss. but do know a bit about this eqpt.
It even comes with 30 2 yard rolls of vinyl
[ June 11, 2007, 10:29 AM: Message edited by: Dana Stanley ]
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
quote: plotter is APD used to be Anagraph.
If ADP is the same cutter as the Anagraph Then you will like that cutter. I have one and it does things the cheap casual use machines only wish they could do.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Rod..perhaps you are not familiar with the term "pouncing".
It is the method used to produce a pattern, consisting of tiny holes, that can be placed on a surface and then the surface can be "marked" with a powdered substance.
Once the pattern is removed the sign painter can use the little "dots" as a template to paint.
It has nothing to do with customer applied decals or contour cutting.
Michael ...Listen to Joe Pribish AKA Old Paint, CorelDraw and Roland cutters are the best combo there is!!
Just my humble opinion...But Joe and I are correct..
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