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I was wondering if it's possible to cut vinyl directly with Adobe Illustrator 8 to an older 48" CG120 Mimaki Plotter? I presently use CASMate Cut, and let me tell ya, it's not the best. Curious to see if there is a driver or a short-cut to doing this similar to the method that can be used cutting direct from CorelDraw to a Roland plotter.
Any help or info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
-------------------- Kim Vlahovich Valachi Signs 25 Ryan Avenue, North Bay, Ontario valachi@sympatico.ca
Posts: 9 | From: North Bay, Ontario Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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Thanks Jacques... I appreciate your help on this topic, unfortunately, I am using the IBM platform and Magisign does not support that technology.It is software designed for the Mac system. Also, you may want to check the link you listed, it comes up empty. I do know which site that you are referring to however as I was there the other day and here is the direct link.
also this is a program that retails for $599.00 for the full blown version. Once again I am trying to steer clear of "costly" software programs as I figured that there might be other solutions out there for simple, straight-forward vinyl cutting procedures.
For anyone else out there using Windows 98 as on O/S, you can download a free demo for the IBM platform as well. This can be found at DahediSign homepage at http://www.dahedisign.com/
This is a free demo which will allow you to cut any file containing no more than 1000 points in size...(I'm thinking they are refering to "reference points or nodes" here). From there you then have to purchase software at a set amount.
I guess I was looking for an easier way out, thinking that someone out there would have found a simple solution for someone wanting to cut directly from Adobe Illustrator 8, using an older CG120 Mimaki plotter, along with Windows 95 on the IBM platform. Sorry for being such a pest, guess I'll go and buy some more cheap software, ala CASMate.
Posts: 9 | From: North Bay, Ontario Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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Kim, have you looked into CoCut? Just thinking that Corel & Illustrator import & export so well that it might be an option for you. Also, just wondering... if you think $599 is "costly" cutting software, and Casmate is "cheap", you must know something I don't know. I have Casmate Pro, and when it was available it was much more costly then $599
Thnks for advice Kim. Note you just had to click on the word "website" in my post to surf on http://www.magisign.com
Summa USA distributes MagiSign in the USA. You are right to note their website don't mention it. In practice, this distribution is done through their other website. Direct link is the following one :
There exists some confusion introduced by some of my competitors about what means "direct plot from Adobe Illustrator".
NCS MagiSign is a plug-in running in the Adobe memory, following rules defined by Adobe. It means your data are processed INSIDE the Adobe software, AND NOT exported to a sign dedicated software to be processed. The result is that you don't have to keep to versions of the files. MagiSign is just a "palette" inside Adobe software. Create, select, setup and cut. No need to launch an external software ! Sure, other solutions could process files produced by Adobe and some are offering a plug-in to simplify the export process. But from the moment the data are exported, you have to manage another memory block, use a not-Adobe interface, be victoms of bugs introduced by a poor quality import algoritm.
While running NCS MagiSign, you never leave Adobe Illustrator and keep all Adobe tools at your fingertips ! Never have to learn another interface !
-------------------- Philippe JACQUES info@magisign.com
Take a look at our NCS MagiSign plug-in for Adobe Illustrator :
CoCut looks rather intriguing. I'll give their demo a whirl and see what happens. I don't require anything "heavy duty" at this stage so this just might be the answer I'm looking for.
As far as my reference to Casmate earlier Doug, I apologize for not being clear when I said "cheap". I meant cheap as in the "Cut" version is full of bugs and now that this company is defunct, we have no where to turn for support and or upgrades... (not that I'd want to). Your right in your statement that they are not cheap price-wise.
I thank you both once again and most all thank this great community of people that belong to this message board. It is truly an honour to be part of such a prestigious group. Thanks also must go out to Barb and Steve who allow this to happen for the rest of us.
I'll sit back now and watch and learn from the rest of you...and if at anytime I can be of help, you can count on my input.
Thanks once again gang!!!
Kim
-------------------- Kim Vlahovich Valachi Signs 25 Ryan Avenue, North Bay, Ontario valachi@sympatico.ca
Posts: 9 | From: North Bay, Ontario Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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Thanks for plugging CoCut. To clarify, CoCut does plug-in to Illustrator PC and has drivers for all Mimaki plotters. So Kim can use it to cut directly out of AI.
Kim, to my knowledge, ScanVec is not defunct. They have discontinued CASmate, but are still alive and well with their FlexiSIGN product. Is that true gang? Have I been watching too much CNN and miss out on major sign industry news?
Regards,
Jim
-------------------- Jim Doggett General Manager, USA Yellotools, Ltd www.yellotools.com
Posts: 500 | From: Sherman, TX USA | Registered: Mar 2000
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to cut directly from illistrator(and i have done this) you need to hookup plotter as a printer....i have a roland and can cut from a multitude of graphics programs. ive cut from corel print house, arts and letters express, freehand, canvas, illistrator, micrographix draw 4,and there are some out there that cut with autocad.
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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No Jim... yer right Scanvec is alive and well, however it's "Casmate" that is defunct,trust me I know, I have tried their web addy for the last 6 months.
Of course Scanvec and all of its' dealers are more than anxious to sell ya something new, such as "Flexi-Sign". I want no part of this because as far as I am concerned, they have left CasMate owners holding the bag. I know this simply because when I asked the supplier who sold us CasMate, he simply told me that I should now buy "Flexi-Sign".
I dont think so "Tim" haha...they already took my money first time around and damned if they are going to get it twice. I'd rather stew in my own ignorance than purchase again from a dealer who is this corrupt. If anyone needs the name of this dealer, by all means contact me. They are and have been a major supplier in Ontario and I would be more tham happy to give out the name...
You know who you are!...
-------------------- Kim Vlahovich Valachi Signs 25 Ryan Avenue, North Bay, Ontario valachi@sympatico.ca
Posts: 9 | From: North Bay, Ontario Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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Kim...I checked out Mimaki's website and there is nothing there in the way of a windows driver that I could find.
My advice would be to call or e-mail Mimaki and ask them if there are drivers available. If you can get a driver for that cutter you will be able to cut from Illustrator with no problem, as Joe mentioned. And believe it Kim, cutting from Corel or Illustrator is easy and flawless, despite what anyone tells you.
But, except for Roland, most cutter manufacturers like to ally themselves with the proprietary "signmaking" software manufacturers so it might be tough getting past the "buy a signmaking program" speeches!
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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