Many sign makers use Signlab, Flexi Sign etc, Signlab full cut and print can cost £2400 per copy.
A lot of the time files that Signlab is struggling with, Corel does exactly the same in a flash no problem, more power for a fraction of the cost.
Other issues for Signlab, cropped images, CMYK images can't be clipped and rendered and kept in CMYK, the only real advantages dedicated sign making software like Signlab is automatic kerning for letters like WA and number 1 cap I etc given the space that suits it not the same space a W would have etc which just looks outright odd, see it everywhere, it's horrible, plus all the support for plotters and printers, decent quality fonts too so used at any size no surprises as you can get with system fonts.
Corel is practically there but not quite and they have said if there is enough interest from sign makers they will consider developing the software to suit sign makers needs, and what a day that will be where we can all avoid importing and exporting back and forth and relying on the coding written by a couple of guys in a shed for Cadlink.
Even then all prints done through Signlab and it's Visual Production Manager has a green hue, that was there in version 8 and in Version 9 it's still there, so when they've come to bring out the new version, they still hadn't cracked the previous one and carry the faults into the new build.
So if you would like to see a CorelSign or Corel Draw with built in features to accomodate sign makers, then make yourself known.
SignLine said:kerning for when letters like WA are side by side
CorelDraw has that too! And has probably had it for about 20 years. It is manual rather than automatic, but how many WA pairs do you get in the average sign?
[Edit]
Just tested it, and I think X6 already does automatic kerning.
Manual kerning isn't the same, and very long winded for lines and lines of text, no WA not used all the while, numbers are, and plenty of other similar letters with the same issue when used together.
So latest Corel has auto kerning, that's one off the list, 100's more to do still.
It's for anyone wanting a sign making version of Corel so please say if you're interested, rather not turn it into posts and posts about a single part/s but get a good indication of interest in a sign making version instead.
Would like to of just done it as a poll, is that possible on here?
That would keep things simpler.
SignLine said: Many sign makers use Signlab, Flexi Sign etc, Signlab full cut and print can cost £2400 per copy. A lot of the time files that Signlab is struggling with, Corel does exactly the same in a flash no problem, more power for a fraction of the cost.
Hi.
That's only the difference in development cost versus the amount of copies sold. If Corel sold the same lesser amount of copies that those more niche programs do then the price of CorelDraw would be much higher, possibly exceeding the amount of a copy of say, Flexi.
For half the cost of some of those niche programs you can make your CorelDraw more powerful and directly useful to that specific workflow. Purchase commercial macros,add-ons, or develop your own.
Some recommendations would be Cocut for CorelDraw, and eCut. With both of these add-ons installed, the price of your tool will still be significantly less than the programs you mentioned above, and the power added that directly helps your specific workflow will be great.
~John
Hello SignLine; when the now SignLab first came out it was called CadLink the reason was you had to have a CAD program Like AutoCad for it to work, after some years they came out with a stand-A-loan program that LOOKED a lot like CorelDraw but you didn't have to have a CAD program for it to work. CorelDraw has always been better at drawing than SignLab and SO MUCH faster for me. As said above there are bolt on's for CorelDraw that will work. The main thing is the drivers for some of the cutters. ( I have a Allan Gold Touch ) and all they offer is Allen standard drivers.) If you want to look at some of the bolt on's just make sure they have your driver. ( All of them have a lot of drivers in there list.)
My Thoughts George
do you know all the solutions from macromonster for cutting?
http://macromonster.com/index.php?pageNum_rs_products=1&keyword=cut&Submit=Go&mod=search