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Hi, I am looking for information on a new software program to help me in designing signs. I have Flexi-sign right now but am wondering if I should buy Corel Draw. Or is there a clipart program that has designs that I can incorporate into a sign? Any suggestions would be helpful.
-------------------- Mary Wallace Unique DeSigns #1 Industrial Drive Vandalia, MO 63382 mwallace@vandaliamo.net Posts: 26 | From: Missouri | Registered: Mar 2004
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You will always do better with an auxilary design program such as Corel or Illustrator. Flexi Sign is limited in design features. Gerber Omega is much better, but still enhanced by Corel or Illustrator.
You can pick up a legit copy of either software from Ebay or similar websites. Be sure to buy a legal registerable package. Resist the temptation to buy a hack copy. It is not worth the money saved. Version 9 should be a good place to start, and not cost a fortune either.
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3485 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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Welcome Mary. I'm a long time Corel advocate. It'll take you way beyond sign layouts, really anywhere you'd need to go. If you gotta learn a graphics editing program, that's a good one. Has no limitations I know of and the price is incredible.
That said, regardless of what you use to generate your vector layouts - no program will really help you "design" signs. That's totally unrelated to your software choice. And no full-featured graphics program is ever easy. After 10 plus years of using Corel I still find new things it does and new ways to do them than the ways I've been getting by with. Brace yourself and go for it!
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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...Having clip art will make you a clip art arranger, but NOT a "designer". If you don't have a creative background already (or have a natural ability), your best bet will be to educate yourself.
...Check out some of the great books on design that are available.
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A book such as Mastering Layout by Mike Stevens or Logo Design for Small Business by Dan Antonelli will help you utilize that software in ways you may not have imagined before. They are available from merchants here.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I have Corel 12...and it's features...especially the much improved "snap-to-object" features are a tremendous value...it's less than $350 brand new at most software vendors. This price includes full-featured photo-editing and trace programs. Adobe's Illustrator and Photoshop programs might be better in some aspects but they are in a higher price bracket.
But for designing itself (as far as sign layout goes, anyway), I can't recommend Mike Steven's book Mastering Layout enough. I grew up in a sign shop and didn't know how to design signs until I read that book.
For logo designs, specifically, I have to recommend Dan Antonelli's book: Logo Design for Small Business.
You can order both of these books from Signcraft's website (https://www.signcraft.com/secure/cart/items.asp?cat=7) for about $60 plus shipping...it will be one of the best investments you ever make in your design skills.
posted
Corel will give you a bunch of elements to use in your design work. I totally agree with what Billy Bob said. Two other great books on creativity are "A Kick in the Seat of the Pants" and "A Whack on the Side of The Head". They are by Otto .... Von Whackenoff or something. He's a PhD. Might not help your design skills but they were certainly great at turning loose the creativity and letting you know the dynamics of what creativity is and how it is hindered and released.
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Check out the Letterville Merchants page. There are several suppliers who sell clipart CD's. Not all clipart is bad,images like sign shapes, scrolls and ribbons can be very helpful.
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I use Corel 9 with Sign Tools 3 added on. It's available on the merchant page for a decent price. No dongles or other security add ons. You can show a colour plan to your customers and cut from the same work.
Rob
-------------------- Rob Root Root Cellar Signs Waubaushene, rob@rootcellarsigns.ca
point and click until it works Posts: 55 | From: Waubaushene, Ont. Canada | Registered: Apr 1999
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There is a 15 day free Trial download for Xara X1 at www.xara.com. Pricewise it is pretty reasonable, and from the reviews it sounds like a really good program. I understand it is pretty much unrivaled in speed which is actually a good thing for beginers who have to do alot of experimenting. I would be seriously looking at it had I not just purchased Corel Draw 12. I haven't downloaded the trial yet because I want to have time to play with it when I do. I'm not saying that it is the answer - I don't know - but definitely worth looking at. From what I understand, some of the features in Corel Draw originated in Xara. I think the learning curve is a lot less in Xara. It might make a good entry level program. I have the Xara 3D, Menumaker and Webster and am impressed with all of them.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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