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I've been on the phone with them for 1 hour and still can't get the vehicle to accept a different body color for proofs. They say it's my software, what do you think?
Any one know the secrets to the mystery?
-------------------- Mike Duncan Lettercraft Signs Posts: 1328 | From: Centreville, VA | Registered: Oct 2000
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What file name from DAL and what version of Omega?
-------------------- Bob Gilliland InKnowVative Communications Harrisburg PA, USA
"The U.S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself." Benjamin Franklin Posts: 642 | From: Harrisburg, PA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Sorry to hear of your trouble guys. Thought I’d run through a “quick” example to show that it only takes a few steps for me to accomplish this. Don’t know if it will reveal anything different then what you are already doing, but you never know.
The file I’m using came right from DAL website just a few minutes ago. Christian is a merchant here and provides three files for download as samples. The one pictured here can be d/l at http://www.digitalauto.on.ca/Ford_220.ai.
First step was to import the file into an open document. (Or you could just open it direct) The file is Postscript and can be brought into Omega without issue. Once the image was imported, I attempted to select the upper right hand area of the drivers side profile
Since it selected only an object that gets stroked, I selected the BACKSPACE key to select the next closest object which was the object that makes up the “body”.
With the body selected, went into my fill dialog box as normal and changed it to a spot color and selected Intense Red.
This is what I had at this point.
No playing with “layers” required. Just need to make sure the proper object is selected. There are many open shapes that simply have strokes applied to them. At no point are you going to be able to fill an open shape with color. As an experiment, open a DAL file and select by “open shapes”, ([ALT]+[C], then [E]), then delete. Look at the objects that are left compared to what was there before deleting. Toggle between [CTRL]+[Z] and [CTRL]+[SHIFT]+[Z] to see the differences. Only those objects that are left can have a “fill” color, therefore those objects are the ones that have to be selected and filled to change body colors. There shouldn’t be any need to play with “layers” or moving objects as they are in “order” right from DAL.
I will probably see Christian (DAL/PVO) tomorrow. I’ll inquire about any specific GA/Omega issues that his company has been fielding and respond back to this thread.
-------------------- Bob Gilliland InKnowVative Communications Harrisburg PA, USA
"The U.S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself." Benjamin Franklin Posts: 642 | From: Harrisburg, PA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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OK, heres what I have learned through trial and error. You must first have the correct import boxes checked or you will be doomed from the start.
Omega has some default boxes that click on during import. The first box is an import box with 4 options:
Turn off Create Cut Shapes Turn on: Vinyl only Turn off: use gerber fonts Turn off Suppress filter dialog
then hit import: Next box is: AI Import Options
It Asks if you want to print colors or vinyl only
Click vinyl Only
Now Import and pick up where Bob G. begins his instructions.
I will say This is not as easy as you might think. These should be the first questions that are asked when trouble shooting import problems.
Once you get the solid body color on the screen, I had to send it to "back" to see the door gaps and panels. Now you can see a combination of white and gray layers.
A few deletes here and there and you can get it to work. Since I needed the body in Black, I had top outline my doors and fender panels and color them gray for them to print out.
More from Dr Jeckles computer lab when I get time, any input from fellow experimentation experts welcome.
PS The avalache was a difficult truck, the vans are much easier. Figures I get a hard one on my first try.
Later
-------------------- Mike Duncan Lettercraft Signs Posts: 1328 | From: Centreville, VA | Registered: Oct 2000
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Until you can look inside my head, look inside a dark and empty closet; should give you about the same picture. And you do remember what [SHIFT]+[F12] does right?!
Mike,
What is the exact file name of the file you are working with of the CD? For the most part, no manipulation of objects from a “front to back” point should be required. It’s a rare case that the “stacking order” is not correct. I think this can be demonstrated by opening the file in Illustrator or some other object based program. I’m not making an “absolute” statement, just saying that it’s rare.
I prefer to “design/work” using Edge fills and often overlook the fact others work with vinyl only. For those folks, thanks for indicating that you selected Vinyl only from the available options. Working with “vinyl” may be part of the stacking order that is being experienced as well; I’ll ask around about it. I’m doing everything on one chosen substrate (say 225 White) from a design standpoint, just like CD or AI work. Setup for, and then actual production, are a different story sometimes.
IMHO, any “tool” like DAL or other outline packages shouldn’t require any substantial amount of effort and time on the end users part. I think you are doing a wise thing by investing some time to understand the interaction of the software with the data files. More of that should be done and people would probably recapture many lost billable hours (or have more vacation time) simply because they were ignorant of what the software could do or how to use it properly. I often beat myself up after finding such a “gem” after weeks, months, or even years of using the software. How true the old line is …Ignorance is Bliss!! Still looking for the OS/software combination that does what I want it to verse what I tell it to.
-------------------- Bob Gilliland InKnowVative Communications Harrisburg PA, USA
"The U.S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself." Benjamin Franklin Posts: 642 | From: Harrisburg, PA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Bob...Remember? Of course not....I've slept since then and everything drained out of my head. Those short cut key commands are no short cut for me. But, I'm still learning. On the positive side - Photoshop is beginning to sink into my gray matter. Probably another thirty years or so and I will be able to use it productively.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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this aint hard. insert cd import car u want. on left side toolbar, click fill button, a bar will come out, turn off the one thats RED. do the same on the next one down stroke button,bar comes out turn off the RED ONE. THATS IT COLOR ON! SOME TEMPLETE CDS AND STUFF ON WEB ARE IN AI FORMAT. CHANGE TO GERBER PLOT FILE THEN CLICK YOUR BUTTONS.
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
Turn off Create Cut Shapes![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Until you can look inside my head, look inside a dark and empty closet; should give you about the same picture. And you do remember what [SHIFT]+[F12] does right?! 
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