Hello, First off let me say thanks up front for any and all people who can help me!
I have a couple of questions reguarding CorelDraw and which version would better suite what I need.
First off I have a Vinyl Express R-Series II Plotter Cutter, and I have a Windows 7 oprerating system.
I would like to know what version of CorelDraw would work with my cutter? Also, does the corelDraw 11 work with windows 7? I have read some says it will some says it will not. I have read several forums and related information. However, I am new to the vinyl world of cutting. I do know CorelDraw so that is not new to me. I would appreciate any helpful information on what everyone is using or likes to use with plotter cutters.
Thanks Again
The question must be: do your plotter work under Windows 7? if your plotter is compatible with Windows 7, it will work with CorelDRAW 11, X5 or other. And yes, CorelDRAW 11 works under Windows 7, but since is a quite old version, you don't have all the feautures of the new version.
Windows 7 does work with my plotter using LXI software that came with my cutter. I am wanting to use CorelDraw to cut directly to my cutter without import/export files to the LXI software, because I can't honestly figure the soft ware set up as far as fonts and sizeing and sometimes it acts crazy. What version of CorelDraw would you suggest? I have also read somewere it must support the VBA plugin which I am a little unfamiliar with. I would like any information you can supply me with as far as websites or your personal opion on what I need.
We are doing this for our automotive business where we rebuild insurance salvaged vehicles. We are also going to try to sell some graphics on ebay as well to make a little extra money. I just want the process to be simple and easy to do and get it done without haveing to make a cut 2 or 3 times(which is wasting our vinyl) for it to be right, which is whats happening now. If you want the LXI to cut a 4 inch letter you have to set it to 5.5 so its kinda crazy.
Thanks
It sounds like you have jumped into something that you don't know what it takes to do the job. you could call the people that made the cutter and tell them what you bought and want to know how to use it, they may help get you pointed in the right direction. There are so many ways to set things up that it is gong to be hard to use it out of the box without having some knowledge of what is needed to be done.
My Thoughts Again George
Well, unfortunately I have tried that al ready. Seems as how they have my money and I have my cutter they no longer want to offer any advise on anything, ie: had trouble with LXI software installing on my computer called them and they said it was something I had done wrong (after following their directions to the T from the instruction sheet they sent) and of course the LXI software didn't come with a user manual or video either. So I finally figured out what needed to be done to get it fixed after much guess work in to the set up of the software that was not compatable with Windows 7 ( as per what they didnt tell me the truth when I contacted them prior to ordering, was told it would work no problem with windows 7) Come to find out they didnt sent me the correct version and I had to Pay more money to get the correct windows version. So now again I guess I am on my own since they have my $600.00 I am no longer important. I did manage to do a Window decal for our truck that looked good without any problems. I guess I was just looking for an easier software for my cutter that maybe would come with a user manual or at least a video.
Thanks For The Information and help
solidrock93 said: Well, unfortunately I have tried that al ready. Seems as how they have my money and I have my cutter they no longer want to offer any advise on anything, ie: had trouble with LXI software installing on my computer called them and they said it was something I had done wrong (after following their directions to the T from the instruction sheet they sent) and of course the LXI software didn't come with a user manual or video either. So I finally figured out what needed to be done to get it fixed after much guess work in to the set up of the software that was not compatable with Windows 7 ( as per what they didnt tell me the truth when I contacted them prior to ordering, was told it would work no problem with windows 7) Come to find out they didnt sent me the correct version and I had to Pay more money to get the correct windows version. So now again I guess I am on my own since they have my $600.00 I am no longer important. I did manage to do a Window decal for our truck that looked good without any problems. I guess I was just looking for an easier software for my cutter that maybe would come with a user manual or at least a video. Thanks For The Information and help
At the pain of costing a little more money, I can recommend that you investigate the CoCut software. It is offered by Corel (check their main web site). This will allow you to use CorelDRAW to do your designs, and with a single click, send that design, or any selected portion, to CoCut, which will drive your plotter. CoCut has drivers for just about all of the plotter/cutters on the market, but you may want to double check by going onto their (CoCut) web site. You can even download a 30 day trial. (Note, the prices on the CoCut web site are Euros.)
An alternative to using CoCut, since you finally have LXi on your system and apparently working, you can design in Corel and then export your design as a *.cmx for Presentations 5.0. This will import directly into LXi, ready to cut.
FWIW: I bought my cutter, eons ago, from Sign Warehouse. Now, the only time I contact them is when I need parts for the cutter, other than the cutting blades. I have twice upgraded my LXi cutting software from them. Other than that, I deal with other vendors, when it comes to the plotter. Sign Warehouse support is in name only, by my experience. I found out that I knew more than they did, when it came to problems.....
I was reading this on your post "since you finally have LXi on your system and apparently working, you can design in Corel and then export your design as a *.cmx for Presentations 5.0. This will import directly into LXi, ready to cut."
I have Corel X3 and tried using that procedure with no luck. It would preview the file, but it wouldn't show up when I clicked 'import'.
I use my 24" Panther cutter (Sign Warehouse product) for cutting vinyl to be used as artwork. My cutter is apparently similar to a Roland 1100. I have VELXi Master+ software, which, as a previous poster stated - gets really funky sometimes - forcing me to close the program and start over or cutting and pasting my current artwork into a new file.
We downsized our location and I let my husband (and business partner of 40 years) disconnect the cutter from the computer. I recently hooked it up again to cut a job and found that it cuts extremely slow. I'm not sure why. Someone suggested that the settings between the cutter and the software somehow got thrown off.
I purchased my cutter and software pre-owned so the folks at Sign Warehouse refused to help me with ANYTHING until I paid $250 to put the cutter in my name. I had to pass since funds were an issue. They are pretty much worthless as customer support unless you buy from them to start with, and I'm hearing that even then they aren't much help. It is only because the former owners TOLD me what the cutter model was that did I know how to even begin to set it up in the software. GRC-61.
I would like to update my software but don't know where to start. I do have Corel Draw X3. I don't know how to interface that with the current software. I tried the xport as suggested to no avail.
Currently my cutter is being driven thru a parallel port. It does have a USB port on it as well as a serial port but it doesn't seem that either of them will work. While I DO have the manual - it is sketchy at best. Limited information.
Where can I start? I have XP Pro on most of my computers, but I do have WIN7 on one I rarely use. I'm not overly familiar with WIN7 but I can learn if that's what it takes. Maybe my cutter is too old? I know the LXi software (Vinyl Express) is dated May 7,2001. 6.6v1.
Is there an affordable solution out there? We don't use it much - but to have someone else cut the vinyl means a 1 hour drive, plus the cost of their time and material. One guy I know has offered to let me use his cutter, but he is about 45 minutes from me and has an expensive cutter. I'd be very concerned I'd screw something up. He has also offered to help me get mine going again but has finally gotten a job and his time is limited.
thank you to anyone than can help.
-susie
Custom Silkscreen Svcs
Hi.
Cutting programs can be expensive. I would take Hughes advice and go for the Cocut. It's relatively affordable if you go for the standard version. You get a 30 day free trial and it is a perfect working solution. It works with all CorelDraw versions.
~John
avatrx said: I was reading this on your post "since you finally have LXi on your system and apparently working, you can design in Corel and then export your design as a *.cmx for Presentations 5.0. This will import directly into LXi, ready to cut." I have Corel X3 and tried using that procedure with no luck. It would preview the file, but it wouldn't show up when I clicked 'import'. I use my 24" Panther cutter (Sign Warehouse product) for cutting vinyl to be used as artwork. My cutter is apparently similar to a Roland 1100. I have VELXi Master+ software, which, as a previous poster stated - gets really funky sometimes - forcing me to close the program and start over or cutting and pasting my current artwork into a new file. We downsized our location and I let my husband (and business partner of 40 years) disconnect the cutter from the computer. I recently hooked it up again to cut a job and found that it cuts extremely slow. I'm not sure why. Someone suggested that the settings between the cutter and the software somehow got thrown off. I purchased my cutter and software pre-owned so the folks at Sign Warehouse refused to help me with ANYTHING until I paid $250 to put the cutter in my name. I had to pass since funds were an issue. They are pretty much worthless as customer support unless you buy from them to start with, and I'm hearing that even then they aren't much help. It is only because the former owners TOLD me what the cutter model was that did I know how to even begin to set it up in the software. GRC-61. ...
...
I still have my Panther GRC-61 and I still have Ver 6.6 VXLi software. (Although, currently I am using version 8.6 on my Win 7 system).
When you export out of DRAW, to a CMX file type, please note that there are two CMX versions (in DRAW X3) and only one of them imports correctly into VXLi software, and that is CMX for Presentations 5.0.
Another means to get the design into VXLi, is to export your DRAW design as *.ai, version 7.0.
The import filters in the VXLi software are old and are not updated, for many years (including, and up to Ver 8.6 of the VXLi).
As for your serial port (which is the better port for the cutter), you have to match the settings of the port on the cutter to the settings of the COM port on your machine. To do that, you have to have a piece of vinyl in the cutter and then you can access the settings, from the cutter panel, and navigate to the serial port settings to see what they are. The normal default is 9600 baud, single stop bit, no parity, and hardware handshake.
If your hardware manual does not have the instructions to get to the settings or how to set up the cutter, please send me a message, privately (See my profile for contact information. Go to my profile and click on 'Send an Email'.)
Hello avatrx; If you have a printer hooked up to the computer, most of those are Parallel, You may want to go with the serial hook up. ( If you have the cable for it.)And Hugh made a nice offer And any ver. of Corel that will run on your system will make signs. The exporting what you have done in CorelDRAW most the time the "Ai, or EPS" file will import in most cutting software. ( I always make a copy of the the drawing and convert one to curves and take the color out so as to just seen the outline of what you want to cutter.
George
thanks for that info. just to clarify. you said any version of Corel will make signs, but that is not to say that I don't need cutting software such as sign tools? etc.
I do basic cutting. We use it for line art. We weed it and use that to make silkscreens. We scrapped our old Brown 20 x 24 camera over a year ago because film was expensive. we didn't do that much artwork so the chemicals would go bad before we used them all. using vinyl just seemed more practical since most of what we do is what we call 'chisel' artwork.
I'm just trying get software that works for as little as possible. I use Adobe Illustrator 10 and CS2, as well as Corel X3. I downloaded sign tools 4 to try that. I just did a test cut and that worked. I'm going to call it a night and work on it again tomorrow. I have a couple of jobs I need to cut out. I"m hoping I can figure out how to do them using the sign tools.
I have Win7 64bit software on that particular computer and my VE LXi won't install. I don't know if there are updated drivers for it or not. but for now I'm stuck using something other than the VE LXi. At least the Sign Tools software installed and did perform my test cut.
It's been a really long day. Here's hoping tomorrow will be better and I can get my artwork cut out.
thank you again. I"m sure I'll be back with more questions.
I've tried both. Cocut is better than Sign Tools, and Cocut Standard is cheaper. You still have 30 day free trial.
This is the least priced, best software for you.