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Hello friends, I'm trying to break off on my own and am in the market for new sign software. I'm very creative and have a great need for flexibility in a program. Also I'm on a budget but will sacrifice (peanut butter sandwiches for now on) for quality. Your response from hands on experience is priceless.I use PC. Thanks guys and gals. Ivan. Gecko Graphics
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Posts: 50 | From: Naugatuck,CT, United States | Registered: Jan 2001
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I have signlab and love it but if you do a search you will find we have had this question on numerous occassions and it will all be there without having to wait for replies
------------------ Ian Wilson Signmaker Toowoomba City Council Cnr Anzac Ave & Stephen st Toowoomba Queensland Australia may all your toubles be little ones The man that never make a mistake never makes anything
Posts: 656 | From: Toowoomba Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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Ivan, I'm using SignLab now because I got a good deal on it when I purchased my Ioline plotter. (Isn't that a great reason! That's something for you to think about. Bargain to get a good price on software when you buy a plotter. They will go down!) I like SignLab allright it has a lot of great features. I really like its node editing and scanning ability. I'm having some problems exporting files to other extensions (.eps, .ai, etc.) and am going to get with support about that this week. I used Flexi-Sign for about 3 years before that and liked it too. It doesn't have as many features as SignLab (at least not the 5.8v)j, but it has some features I like better than SignLab. I think they are both very sound programs. I used Gerber(dis)Advantage for about 2 years before. I didn't care for it at all. When I went from Gerber to Flexi it seemed like a huge step up in technology. Gerber just seems prehistoric to me. When I went from Flexi to SignLab, I was pleased with many of the new features of Signlab but missed some of the features of Flexi. (Flexi has a much better Production manager than SignLab also Flexi will allow you to open multiple pages and Signlab won't. I really miss that.) SignLab doesn't seem to lock-up as much as Flexi did (probably because it doesn't allow you to open multiple pages!) If you do a search through the archives you will find many sign makers love the same programs that others hate. Many are using cutting programs with Corel or Adobi and loving that too. (that is a lot less expensive route!). I've never tried that, but it might work ok. There is a lot of options out there, but I don't think you can go wrong with SignLab or Flexi. I've just come to the conclusion that sign makers use a program, get used to it and just love the one that they get comfortable with, which ever it is. Good Luck! SignmanBob
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Posts: 8 | From: New Market, Al | Registered: Jan 2001
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quote:I've just come to the conclusion that sign makers use a program, get used to it and just love the one that they get comfortable with, which ever it is.
------------------ Dave Grundy shop#340 AKA "applicator" on mIRC "stickin' sticky stuff to valuable vessels and vehicles!" in Granton, Ontario, Canada 1-519-225-2634 dave.grundy@quadro.net www.quadro.net/~shirley "A PROUD $ supporter of the website"
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I would have to put in a good word for Gerber. Having just upgraded to Omega, I cannot say from experience that this is a great program. However, I can say that Gerber has traditionally been "the standard" in the sign software industry. Their products... hardware and software...have always been extraordinary. You can't lose if you go with Gerber all the way. It may not be the cheapest way to go, but the fact that their products "work", will make you money in the long run. You have to look at the Big Picture when making this kind of decision. As a Gerber Edge user, I can recommend going whole hog and lease the biggest, best bunch of "tools" you can afford. Get the Gerber, get the Edge, spend some time learning the program and....you will be making a ton of money. If your can lease a system for five years and get all the bells and whistles, you need only work one half day per month to make your lease payment. There have been times where we used several square feet of vinyl and made enough to pay for the vinyl, the foil and the lease payment. Good luck with your decision.
------------------ Louis A. Lazarus Milt's Sign Service, Inc. 20 So. Linden Ave. #5B 650-588-0490 fontking1a@aol.com
Posts: 560 | From: El Granada, CA | Registered: Apr 1999
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Another vote here for Gerber...Especially if a bargain is essential. The cost seems high going in but have NEVER had a problem with any of their equipment or soft ware in the last 12 years of using it. Judging by complaints I've seen here on other product lines I'm wondering if maybe they really are the best over the "long haul".
I would be curious to hear other opinions on this subject.
One curious piece of software I have seen comes out of Ausralia "Vinyl Pro"???something like that...looks interesting and the cost is around $400. you might look into it. R.T. Thomas has got info on it ...just post here, he will answer.
------------------ Monte Jumper SIGNLanguage/Norman.Okla.
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Go with the BEST! buy Signlab. I used Signmate Elite which was Flexi market by Roland for about 2 years. It was a great program but after seeing a Signlab demonstration I was hooked. I done a crossgrade to Signlab In 1996 and have never looked back. Like they say, "it only costs a little more to go First Class", buy Signlab you won't regret it.
------------------ Glenn Hall Hall of Graphics Toledo, Il
Posts: 28 | From: Toledo,Illinois, usa | Registered: Dec 2000
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do you have a plotter?...recommend roland so you can cut from corel draw.....if you dont have a roland check out the new vinyl masters pro...and get used to the peanut butter....
------------------ joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-944-5060 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND
Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hi Ivan, I too have Vinyl Master Pro, I'm only starting out but this programme has many add-ons inclusive in the programme. Great value at $399 Aust.See it at www.future-1.com they will send you a full working version; you can also activate it for I think 3 days for trial.It reads many types of formats and does everything that the other programmes do! Goodluck!
------------------ Freeloner
Posts: 94 | From: Q.L.D Australia | Registered: Jan 2001
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I use Corel direct to a Roland, does everything I want or need it too. If I were to get into serious digital printing I'd probably go Gerber, but for now our Krylon blends beat the hell out of the "Phantom" comic strip look the digital printers are outputting.
------------------ George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@ionictech.com
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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