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: 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