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I have used Flexi Pro for years and thats what I'm good with but I also have Corel 9 but have never used it much so I don't know a lot about it.I have read alot of you use Corel for most of your design & output,my question is do most of you use it for the reason it's a lot less expensive than other Big name sign software or is it full of hidden secrets I should know more about? Just courious.
------------------ Alan Ladd Atlanta,Ga
[This message has been edited by Aladd (edited May 06, 2001).]
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alan....iam one of the original corel to plotter people...been cuttin direct from corel 3 (92-93)to plotter no bridge programs....only problem with 3 & 4 was they would only cut 30"x 30"..but theirs ways around that. corel 5 and 6 was missin the plotter engine, was leased to COCUT/EUROCUT for those 2 versions.......also used ARTS & LETTERS EXPRESS 5.0 cut with..it had a better length then corel but was limited by its own fonts...but there were ways round that to.....as for the reason of using corel...yes its much cheaper and its more versitile then a sign program.....will do more thing then you will ever need a program do to...i used to tell people when they asked if i thought they could use corel....well pick a version, 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0r 10, and you got a 3 year learning curve if you want to use corel to its fullest capability. and this doesnt include PHOTO-PAINT. ive used flexi...dont like it, desktop is not real clean, the only thing i liked in flexi was the distortions...so nice just to look at a picture of the distortion you want and click on it....wish signlab had it that way...i still cut outa corel i got a new used pnc-1100 and it does 125"long by 23" wide...so corel accepts its printer setup and it cuts..dont panel...but dave grundy has a way to do it....i try to keep my cuttin stuff under 20"....tall...but can cut it outa corel buy making it 2 pieces.....anyhow...if you make it to any of the letterhead meets...some one there will be glad to show ya anything you need to know about corel or email me, dave, timi, and gail down under...
------------------ 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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Alan..I can only speak for myself. I started "playing" with CorelDraw 2 several years ago and loved it. I had a "sign program" that was DOS based but it would import CorelDraw files. The "Sign Program" was the pits as far as design work was concerned but it did allow me to cut stuff that was created in Corel.
Since then Corel has evolved into a very powerful graphics program with virtually unlimited size restrictions and in combination with my cutter has served me very well. Of course, I have some problems with Corel, as do the owners of dedicated signmaking programs. I am used to Corel so I am sticking with it.
Price is certainly a consideration.
Corel comes with about 1000 TTF and Type1 fonts. It comes with both vector and bitmap editing features. It comes with a trace program that is constantly getting better. It comes with TONS of both bitmap and vector clipart. Because of it's "roots" in desktop publishing, it allows the user to print out accurate renderings of how a "sign" will look.
I am sure that Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop will do the same thing too. (I just happen to have started with Corel)
For me, spending $300 Canadian every couple of years to use the latest version of a program that will print/cut/scan is a small price to pay.
(of course you have to have the correct cutter to be able to use the "cutting" feature! )
that's my 2 cent's worth Canadian (1.2 cents U.S.!!!)
------------------ Dave Grundy 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
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I sure like Corel for doing fades and layers and stuff that might be printed with an Edge or similar output device, but for the bread and butter sign stuff, I'm baffled by all the extra steps the Corel folks use to do things that happen so simply with a sign program. Go watch someone work with Corel. Just stand behind them. Perhaps scribble a sign layout on a napkin and ask for a demonstration on turning it into a sign. Count the steps. Maybe you'll find they really do have a better product. I didn't.
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Posts: 6806 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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rick..as for steps in corel...dont think so...the one program i really belive is "step after step" is gerbers GA....man i worked with it for an hour and was so irrated with its back stepin everytime you want to do somethin....corel is a breeze, the only thing most sign programs do better is distortions.....the sign proggy makes it simple(most of em)corel you have to work at it....
------------------ 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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posted
just some thoughts that came to me while wondering if anyone is going to score in the kings-avalanche game...
i have used casmate for 7 years now. we also had corel 5 on the computer then. i found that corel was great for doing the rendering drawings but it was a bit awkward to use for anything else.
i still use casmate almost exclusively for doing my sign designs but have been dinking around with corel 8 here at home. (hey... dana came with her own software... ain't it great?). i have been pleasantly surprised at how much easier corel has become but still think the casmate is far easier to use. the special effects in corel (cool fuzzy drop shades and blends) are superior to casmate but as far as the actual use of the program goes, casmate kicks it's butt.
we upgraded to inspire a few years ago to facilitate the use of a large format printer but was very disappointed at the actual program. we have since upgraded to flexi sign 6.5 on both computers and found that the rip's in flexi work awesomely but i don't like the flexi program. this is due to the fact that i am so well versed in casmate that i find the flexi commands to be awkward at times. what can i say... i am a little biased... i AM DrCAS after all...
i use a lot of the fonts that are in corel in casmate. i use an ATM to allow me to use them. i use type 1's almost exclusively because i think they are a little cleaner and i don't have to install them in windows. maybe there is a better system for this but it works great for us.
the biggest advantage i have for using corel, beside the afore mentioned reasons, is that the import filters are a lot more up to date than the ones found in casmate. i use it a lot for that. just do the ol' cut and paste routine. works for me.
to conclude this lengthy diatribe, i would say that since you have been using flexi for so long, to switch horses in midstream, if you will, is counterproductive. learning another program while you are trying to earn a living can prove to be very frustrating and you will probably find yourself going back to your old program for a lot of things.
just my not so humble at times opinion... hope it helps. have a great one!
------------------ Bruce Bowers DrCAS Signtech
"how great are His signs..." Daniel 4:3
i am a proud supporter of this website!
Posts: 6464 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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