posted
It seems that the simplest task accomplished easily with my old drawing software seems out of reach of Corel, or is it the twit on the end of the mouse? All I want to do is import a file as .ai or .eps which is exported from SignLab. I am using Corel 7 select. Can anyone help with this please?
-------------------- Graham Hodge Cam River Signs Somerset, Tasmania. Posts: 441 | From: Somerset, Tasmania | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I always thought that Corel was a "desk top publishing" program that somehow has wormed it's way into the sign end of computers. I have NEVER had a promblem with my program that was designed for the sign industry ONLY. Of course I can't do any desk top publishing,but why would I want to? That is the job of publishers!
-------------------- PKing is Pat King The Professor of SIGNOLOGY Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Possibly true but my need in this case for Corel is in what i thought to be it's ability to convert files into various file formats. here SignLab is a little limited.
-------------------- Graham Hodge Cam River Signs Somerset, Tasmania. Posts: 441 | From: Somerset, Tasmania | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Hi Gray, You could be looking at a couple of issues with the import/export process. I have Corel 7 and I used to use Signlab some time ago (stress USED TO). I haven't had a particularly good run with .eps for strictly vector files, I've always erred to the side of .ai Before using the export/import route, have you tried Control C from Signlab and Control V into Corel? I understand some releases of Signlab will support doing from Corel into Signlab so it stands to reason it may well work going in the opposite direction. If not, then I'd rescale by a factor of say .1 or to a "page" size, get rid of any font information by converting to paths or whatever the correct terminology is for Signlab, select everything you want exported and export using ai (V1.1 if its an option) In Corel it should be a simple matter of importing the file. If you run into the problem of the copy being segmented then try breaking it apart totally and ungrouping if necessary in Signlab before re-exporting. As I've mostly subcontracted I've never had need to purchase a plotter. I regularly do my designing in Corel 7, export it to .ai and email it to a friend who then imports it into Signlab and outputs it for me. I realise this is other way around to the process you are doing but I really think it should be that simple, maybe there are some check boxes during the export process you need to play with? Pat, Corel is a primarily a vector program, exactly the same as your plotting software. It just tells the machine "Cut a line from point A to point B then go to point C...". The advantage is that you CAN do quality desktop design with it as well as output to a knife plotter. Gray, if you think I can help any further please drop me a line,although I think you'll get plenty of other helpful responses by users more experienced with Signlab than me. HTH, David
By the way Gray, I have compiled a CD full of old Australian print and sign layouts from about 1900-1930 or thereabouts. After you put me onto that book I tracked it down as well as a couple of other sources. If a copy would be any use to you let me know your postal address.
[ November 22, 2001: Message edited by: David Fisher ]
-------------------- David Fisher D.A. & P.M. Fisher Services Brisbane Australia da_pmf@yahoo.com Trying out a new tag: "Parents are the bones on which children cut their teeth Peter Ustinov Posts: 1450 | From: Brisbane Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Gray.. I skipped version 7 but if there is an option for selecting the file format you are importing, DO NOT USE the default "all file formats". Instead use "PS-Post script interpreted" to import the EPS file.
Also...I believe that Corel 7 SELECT was a stripped down version that was marketed at a much lower price after version 8 came out. That might be a factor. I remember that Ross Luckhurst had that particular version. His e-mail address is
rossluck@sympatico.ca
Hope this helps.
-------------------- 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
posted
Dave's right about the Select. It's not the full program. You might be better off using CD9, which you can find on eBay for less than $50. I'm still using CD7 & it works fine. Maybe someday I'll upgrade; but not necessary right now.
-------------------- Bill Cosharek Bill Cosharek Signs N.Huntingdon,Pa
bcosharek@juno.com Posts: 703 | From: N.Huntingdon, Pa, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
Duckie, Duckie,Duckie, didn't I catch you and another Gerberphile ( Pat Neve I believe ) at Duck Soup trying in vain to preform a simple operation that I told you I could do in one click in Corel??? NEVER say NEVER hahahahahaha
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
posted
In Corel Select(chopped down version of 7) there is no adobe illustrator import or exort filter, you have to use the postscript interpreted file type filter instead.In some cases it may be necessary to rename a file with the .ai extention to a filename with the .eps file extention.This has worked for me in the past.
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
You might try converting the text to graphics in Signlab before you export to Corel. I've had problems with the process until I do this. I didn't have to do this in Signlab 3.1, but in Signlab 5 I seem to have to. I use the AI format. Other than that, it works great between the two programs.
-------------------- Bob Darnell London, Ontario, Canada
posted
i have been cutting from corel since version 3, when the cutable page was only 30", and was told by some sign people that the corel fonts would not cut as clean as GERBERS, this was was "spin" that was started by the high dollar sign program companies to hype there superiority. now i use corel 7, full program version 7.467 is the most stable and rock solid versions of corel produced. iam with the rest here that select is your problem. as for corel being a desktop publishing program..yep that it is and does it as good as QUARK or PAGEMAKER. and ive had the DISPLEASURE of using GERBER'S $4000 redundante,slow, non-compliate,uncompatable with anything program......of all the sign programs....GA 6 is next to LETTER ART in MY OPINION the least advanced....as compared to corel draw!!!! but when you been had for $4000, you gota love it.....
[ November 22, 2001: Message edited by: old paint ]
-------------------- 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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posted
Thanks all for your responses. All this stuff is because a printer wants a logo I designed for a mutaul client (which I am happy to do, we help one another out). I don't know if I want to spend any more money upgrading CD from 7select, I'm a Signlab man, tho' I hear what you're saying Old Paint. I've just grown up with Signlab as you have with CD. Having said that, I'm not sure if I'll pay the price for Signlab 6, (about $900 Aus).
-------------------- Graham Hodge Cam River Signs Somerset, Tasmania. Posts: 441 | From: Somerset, Tasmania | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
hey all....gotta put my bones in this pile.....have used corel and gerbers omega both for the last two years.....and.....gerber is a joke.....its the most difficult program i've ever used in terms of the hoops you have to go through to do anything.....in corel point and click...sure you gotta expect a learning curve in both....and i use the omega for quickie stuff....but it cost a ton and my corel 9 didnt.....i learned corel at a kinko's....paying by the hour....and ran rings around the mac geeks too.....i know that it's not "THE COOLEST NEW MOST EXPENSIVE FREAKIN SIGN PROGRAM ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, AND IT COSTS THAT MUCH BECAUSE OF THE GIANT PAGES WE COVER IN EVERY SIGNMAKING MAGAZINE".....but...it works...consistently.....everytime.....although.....i have to admit....omega outlines better.....so there...i said something nice about gerber....man...that hurt sooo much..
-------------------- "I may be going to hell in a bucket, but at least I'm enjoying the ride"
John Zant Sign of the Times Lafayette, Louisiana signmojo@cox-internet.com 337-233-9824 Posts: 57 | From: Lafayette, Louisiana, USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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posted
Hi John...Regarding the outline/contour feature of Corel 9...It SUCKED!!
Corel 8 contoured perfectly, and version 10 does too. I don't know what idiot changed things in version 9.
-------------------- 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
posted
Joe, you wouldnt know if your but was a hole in the ground, if ya didnt crap out of it! Ive seen you guys use corel and believe me corel fonts blown up at times are crap..... also the whole process of doing shadows and outlines in corel is fine for desktop publishing, but not in signmaking.. the time it takes ya to do it in corel, ive paid for gerber 10 fold.... lots of little things ive seen in corel, make me glad ive got my gerber.... but you be happy, ya got what ya paid for....
p.s. i do luv op
[ November 23, 2001: Message edited by: Del Badry ]
-------------------- Del Badry philmdesign Sylvan Lake, Alberta Posts: 636 | From: Sylvan Lake, Alberta | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I guess I'm just stoopid and don't notice evrything I should. I plug along with an $80 version of Corel that seems to do eveything that the dedicated programs will. Some folks back me up while others argue. There was supposed to be a side by side demonstrationat at a meet a few years back but it never materialized . I would honestly like to see what justifies spending twenty times the price. I don't want to start a war here just inquistive. I've heard the horror stories about the "badly distorted" fonts in Corel for years. The only times I have seen it was the result of using a junk font that would produce the same crap no matter what the program or by working with too big a type size. My drawing page is set up at 24x60 and I work at 200 pts. Most lettering I do is well under a foot yet I do a lot of race car numbers at 22.5" and have never seen the dreaded distortions. As far as how long it takes to do certain operations I did a little test. I typed the word Letterville and outlined it. From a blank page, selecting the font, typing the word, assigning the hairline, doing the outline/contour was 40 seconds. I then wiped the page and did Letterville again, this time with an outline and shadow combination, a minute and twenty seconds. I don't think any dedicated package will do the outline in less time. Lets say they can do the outline/shadow in half the time. The way I figure it after perfoming this particular operation around two thousand times, I've made up the difference in price. I'll be generous and realistic and say I do this operation twice a week, providing I don't take any vacations that comes to about twenty years to make up the difference. Anybody that knows me will tell you I am pretty efficient and don't like wasting time, I'm just not all that crazy about wasting money either. Again I'm not trying to get anything going, I just don't get it.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
posted
There's only one thing I dont like about my CorelDRAW 8: the contour feature (outlines for non-Corel folk) puts a bazillion nodes in the outlines around curves and if you zoom in real tight, they're all straight line segments.
This requires selecting those nodes, turning into curves (two mouse clicks) then smoothing.. no big deal but the additional nodes slow down my plotter unless I auto-reduce them.
I like using Illustrator for outlining. I just drop the Corel art into AI, give it a stroke that's the width of the outline I want, then AI can convert the stroke width into a seperate object for the outline- with no extra nodes. Maybe Corel 10 can do it that way too?
Anyway, George is right about the fonts. The only reason fonts look like crap when blown up big is because they're cheap-ass fonts. A cheap font is a cheap font, no matter what program is used to scale it up, but the fonts that come with CorelDRAW are not cheap fonts. They're made by Bitstream - the top font company on the planet.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
gray....del and i are "buds"....and we banter and call each other names, but all in friendship. so we got no problem...other then differeance of opinions. and its a know fact that a lot on here dont like MY OPINIONS,hahahahahahaha.geo is right about "cheapa** fonts" but their are a couple in corel that are crap to cut. BRODY is the one i dont like to cut, really ragged edges.i had LETTER ART 8.0, and did test cuts of some fonts from letter art and corel,as long as i used like fonts, you could not tell which font was cut which program. this is one of the big lies that geber tells the people who buy their product(they gota tell em somethin. as for doin shadows in corel lets see put text on screen,controll+spacebar,then contr+D, asign color to one, set where you want with mouse,put selection box around both, then mouse pick arrange from tool bar, choose trim, then choose object to trim, hit left mouse, then seperate and cut. lets see all of a bout 30-45 sec. ive used GA, and to do same thing you have to mouse pick and click each operation and then go to work page....drove me nuts....with the built in protections to keep me from screwin up....
-------------------- 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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posted
I know many (if not all) people here that use a dedicated sign program own it, but from personal experience with others, how many own the very graphics program they sing praises about constantlty.
It amazes me some of the folks I have met locally who own Corel Draw or Adobe or a few others, who practically sound like paid salesman for a product they have pirated.
posted
Glad to hear that OP. Good point David, I must admit I was a bit worried when I bought CD7 from Ebay, it can from a guy in the UK who sells software. It's an original disk but no manual or license. Is that kosher? I'm a believer in avoiding piracy, the old law "thou shalt not steal" applies here. I would be a liar if I said I've not installed copied software, but if I use it I buy it, if not I delete it. I use a Palm, there are heaps of good programs for Palm that one can try before you buy, same applies even to biggies like SignLab, I have a demo of SL6. There's no need to pirate any more. Forgive me, not trying to sound 'holier than thou'. you just got me going
-------------------- Graham Hodge Cam River Signs Somerset, Tasmania. Posts: 441 | From: Somerset, Tasmania | Registered: Nov 1998
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quote: I know many (if not all) people here that use a dedicated sign program own it, but from personal experience with others, how many own the very graphics program they sing praises about constantlty.
Well I for one have got a cancelled check and my copy is registered (DR8XR-4R10012066) and if you truly believe all dedicated programs in use are legit I need to talk to you about some oceanfront property I've got here in Tennessee Seriously, I know of more than one copy of cracked dedicated programs out there.
[ November 23, 2001: Message edited by: George Perkins ]
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
posted
If I knew about Co-cut , Magi-Sign or other cheaper alternatives years ago, I would have probably looked into that. As it is I have been fortunate with my costs on legal ownership of sign specific software.
I bought out some sign companies equipment 5 years ago. I got such a deal on the computer, plotter, & scanner plus office furniture & lots of vinyl that my copy of CasMate Pro was free. (or everything else was) I had been using it with previous employers so was able to jump right in and start making this business successful. I did, however, have some tech support issues that I pushed real hard on for solutions, & when none were available I was given a full Inspire sign package. I now own both. My copy of Omega was included in a promotion with purchase of Edge II & Envision plotter.
I actually like Adobe Illustrator the best. (which I aquired complete with a signed copy of Adobe's transfer of ownership document for a case of beer) In fairness I did pay over $100 per upgrade about 3 times now, plus full price for Streamline & Photoshop. Also paid for my Corel 9 just for the fonts, & to send or recieve client Corel files (due to some exporting problems between CD & AI)
Mike, the weak link (for me)in designing in Illustrator is the outline, or offset path function. I'm very interested in how you set a stroke width then convert to vectors. I will be looking for that right now.
posted
this conversation goes round and round its almost reached the urban myth stage i think
with folk recounting horror stories about fonts that go haywire at certian sizes and others refusing to accept that maybe, just maybe there is room for all opinions and preferances of software
i remarked a little while ago to a fella who was looking to set up a plotter and software
quote: You will find that people's options on which is the best signmaking software will be as varied as sign folk themselves.
Something I've noticed over time is the passion with which we defend our choice of equipment.
Each of us become so dependant on our combination of software and plotter to help make our living, we feel protective of our choice.
Most plotters today can be driven from almost all signmaking software on the market, Roland plotters can even cut straight from Corel Draw without the need for any other program.
Good luck with your choice.
for what its worth I have at varing times used each of the programs listed below to run the machines in my workshop, which have included a roland 1000, roland 1100, roland pc60, roland 5000, multicam cnc router, and too many printers to list...
what i can say is in the past few years we have sold or given away all of the 'real' signmaking programs and have been more than happy running the shop entirly with corel, the only version ive never owned or wanted to was ver6.
I have owned all but the programs i was given to help build
i agree that dedicated 'dongle protected' programs are just as easy to pirate, if that is your want to do, as any other program out there, there is a complete how-to available on the net for re-writing the call back sequence of those programs if your keen for that learning curve
I say again, i like what i like... but everyone is free to feel the same way about their working partner too, remember
quote: Good luck with your choice
cheers gail
-------------------- Gail & Dave Hervey Bay Qld Australia
gail@roadwarriorproducts.com.au
sumtimes ya just gota!
Posts: 794 | From: 552 O'Regans Creek Rd Toogoom Qld 4655 Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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NOW..will you please buy Win2000 and try out Roland's NT driver so I can get some feedback on what is wrong with it! LOL
OR..if you want to wait..I'll figure it out myself and e-mail you the cure!
-------------------- 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
posted
dave go back to 95B with the old roland driver....works all day long for me no problems....hehehehehe with my BOUGHT COPY OF COREL 7........
-------------------- 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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In Illustrator you have two options. Object>Path>Offset path or, set your stroke width in the stroke palett , go to Object>Path>Outline Stroke. I use the outline stroke when I'm just cutting an outline to overlap and trap another color. The easiest way to do it is keep an original unstroked line on one layer and do the stroked copy on another layer. You get a perfectly trapped outline for cutting or printing.
-------------------- Bill Modzel Mod-Zel screen Printing Traverse city, MI modzel@sbcglobal.net
Posts: 1356 | From: Traverse City, MI | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Thanks again Mike, & Bill. That is the best Illustrator tip I've learned all year. I really gotta read the manual more! I always tried to get results from the outline command when I had a contour selected with no stroke. Offset path worked for that purpose & I never figured out this powerful new discovery. This BB is a great resource!
posted
Doug, Bill beat me to it but that's a pretty handy feature in AI. AI also leaves the original path in tact, the one you added the stroke to to create the outline.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
dave, why would i want to open 'that' can of worms when i have spent way toooo many hours puting friends machines back to 98se and the 'proper driver' hehehe
sumfins are just not ment to be mate
cheers gail
-------------------- Gail & Dave Hervey Bay Qld Australia
gail@roadwarriorproducts.com.au
sumtimes ya just gota!
Posts: 794 | From: 552 O'Regans Creek Rd Toogoom Qld 4655 Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Sorry it took so long for me to reply. Away for the weekend and all that...
I don't have any problem exporting AI files From SignLab 4.95 to either Corel 8 or 9. I don't even convert the fonts to paths. I do have to resize the sign before exporting as I prefer to work on an 8.5"x11" format. The colors don't come over too good, so I do have to tweak some of them before sending them to a client.
And just to clear one thing up - GEORGE - I had NEVER used GA before I sat down at Duckies computer. I was just checkin out the software to see what it was like. I grew up with Corel, and have been working Signlab since the DOS version 2.1 (CadLink) - so there
-------------------- Pat Neve, Jr. Sign Man, Inc. 4580 N. US 1 Melbourne, FL 32935 321-537-8675 Capt. Sign
posted
I hear all the hype about Corel, Flexi Sign, Casemate, and signlab, from all sorts of sign users, I say if you like your version of software Good if it works for you ,, dont change, I love the saying if it aint broke dont fix it, at least be hesitant to do so.. and the fact that most here would have a "pirated" version of Corel, well I am happily a "leaser" of the program since no one realy owns the software they buy, they are just mearly given "Right to Use".
One more thing "PIRACY" applys to all things, not just software, how many people here trade fonts. fonts are software/programs.
enough of the soapbox , I just love this site and generaly everything I see here is great, I want to personaly thank everyone for what they do, especial Mark Fair, Dan, Monte, SI and the rest..
Benji
-------------------- Benji McEntire Harrison Graphics/Signs of America Harrison, Arkansas 72601 signmaker@cox.com
posted
Benji...Just thought I would show you a picture of the beautiful packaging my "pirated" versions of CorelDraw came in.
Version 4 on the left, the other two are obvious and I am missing version 8 because I SOLD it to a fellow letterhead when I "pirated" the version 9 that you see so proudly displayed. I also can't show you the version 2 floppies since they were on 5.25" REAL floppies and I chucked them away about 5 or 6 years ago when my new puter, at the time, came without a 5.25 drive!
(edited portion) Oppps, sorry Benji... Guess I should have directed the post to David Wright instead!!
[ November 26, 2001: Message edited by: Dave Grundy ]
-------------------- 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
posted
Ron, copy and paste would seem a simple and obvious solution, but between Signlab 5 and Corel 7 Select it just does not work. Some have suggested the 'select' edition may be at fault. To be honest, I shall go back to Micrographix Draw, it was much easier to use.
-------------------- Graham Hodge Cam River Signs Somerset, Tasmania. Posts: 441 | From: Somerset, Tasmania | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Dave I never said you "Pirated" I was mearly commenting on an earlier post...
Sorry about the mixup
I think it was David Wright that said ------------------------------------- "I know many (if not all) people here that use a dedicated sign program own it, but from personal experience with others, how many own the very graphics program they sing praises about constantlty. It amazes me some of the folks I have met locally who own Corel Draw or Adobe or a few others, who practically sound like paid salesman for a product they have pirated." [from earlier post]
--------------------------------------- Benji
-------------------- Benji McEntire Harrison Graphics/Signs of America Harrison, Arkansas 72601 signmaker@cox.com
posted
Why are the people who legally own the software in question getting so thin skinned on this. No way were any people in this post questioned, (or even thought of) but there are a few on the board I know who are big offenders. If the shoe fits, wear it. If it isn't you, why take umbrage? C'mon Dave, you had to know I didn't mean you. Nice boxes though. I like to save mine too.
-------------------- Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Posts: 2785 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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posted
Sorry Dave, and actualy this thread isnt the place to air our dislikes about softwares and the people that use them I must appoligize for this, wasnt even on topic.
Benji
-------------------- Benji McEntire Harrison Graphics/Signs of America Harrison, Arkansas 72601 signmaker@cox.com
Seriously..everything is OK..several friendly e-mails this afternoon!
-------------------- 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
. I would honestly like to see what justifies spending twenty times the price. I don't want to start a war here just inquistive.
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