I just got finished 'hand-holding' a friend through a harrowing experience of purchasing a new plotter and getting it up and running on his pc.
I cannot believe the deceitful tactics of the suppliers he encountered on this journey. This guy's no computer whiz. Daily, he would call me with the new 'information' he had been given from plotter dealers he had spoken to. The stories all had roughly the same plot - "You cannot cut directly to a plotter from CorelDraw". And... "Even if you could, CorelDraw is waaaay too hard to learn - you MUST use our $2000 signmaking program or you're kidding yourself".
Now, this friend of mine is a great, trusting guy and he fully believed what he was being told was truthful. Here's a news flash for ya kiddies... the statements above are a complete CROCK. Corel is NOT harder to learn than any other 'signmaking' software out there, and, at least with Roland Plotters, (which is what he was shopping for) you can most DEFINITELY cut directly from CorelDraw! I know you can because I did it today.
Many thanks to Dave Grundy for posting religiously on this topic for so long. He speaks the truth and backs it up. Earlier today He took time out of his busy schedule to talk me through a couple fine points in the process. It works like a charm. Dave Grundy is THE MAN!
And you suppliers who dole out misinformation and fear tactics to peddle your overpriced 'Sign' software - shame on you. Take a clue from the Letterheads spirit - tell the truth openly - and we'll support you. Lie to us or trick us and we'll drop you like a bad habit.
posted
Aren't these the same suppliers who routinely tell customers they can't be bothered with brushes because "nobody paints anymore"? The same guys who sell plotters and software to every knucklehead who thinks the sign business is easy money, telling them "no experience necessary"? Who push products based on commissions, without knowing how they work (or don't)? Except for this and a few other sources, the only information available is through manufacturers reps or suppliers, and their job isn't to HELP you, it's to SELL to you. I appreciate your anger, but it's a bit like getting mad a a dog because it can lick itself - they do it cause they can.
------------------ "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. - Raoul Duke (Hunter S. Thompson)
Cam Finest Kind Signs 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988"
Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
AMEN. Well, thats 'salesmanship' from the misinformed, uninformed and downright unreformed. Those that put down Corel because it is not a 'dedicated' sign program are missing a lot of useful tools and a lot of hard earned dollars. I can understand why a dedicated sign program costs a lot more, it's based on the volume of sales, Corel has a base of millions of users worldwide, the other 'sign programs' are limited to few thousand, the cost of development has to be spread out on a much smaller user base. But as far as functionality goes, if I can take a piece of software and create a layout and send the digital information to a cutter, plotter, printer or engraving machine I don't care how little it cost or what the name of it is. I applaud Roland for setting up their cutter/plotter to run directly from Corel, some of the other brands could use this functionality. To each their own, if anyone wants a dedicated system then they can spend several thousand more for it, personally I'd rather use the extra money for a few extra peices of equipment, you can equip a decent woodworking shop for the difference in price. And besides, it's not the cost of the tools it's the craftsmanship of the user.
------------------ Larry
Elliott Design McLemoresville, Tn.
If you can't find the time to do it right, where gonna find the time to do it over?
Posts: 486 | From: McLemoresville, TN. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Yep... that's what the guy who sold me my Ioline plotter told me too....while at the same time charging me about $700 more than I could have bought the same plotter for somewhere else (but that was my fault for being a poor shopper). Fortunately... he got all the money I had so I couldn't buy his "sign software" and I called Ioline and cutting direct from corel is a breeze. I can cut anything, no problem. LE
------------------ LazyEdna in RL known as Sara Straw from southern Utah 5 National Parks within 3 hours drive Red Rock Heaven
Posts: 776 | From: Aurora, Utah, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I bought my first plotter (Roland) last yr, Dave got me up and running in 45 minutes! I had no idea how easy it would be to learn how to cut from Corel, but it really was! I don't do much vinyl, but when I do, it's a no brainer....almost, as long as i remember the 'black hairline' command! Adrienne
------------------ Adrienne Morgan Splash Signs www.splashsigns.com "Rainkatt' on mirc chat
A PROUD sponsor of this amazing site...U can B 2!! www.letterheads.com/supporters "If it wasn't for signs, you wouldn't know where you were!!"
42 ALta Loma Benicia, CA 94510 707-746-7847 (shop) 707-550-4553 (voicemail) adrienne@splashsigns.com
Posts: 4868 | From: Port Angeles, Washington, USA | Registered: Sep 1999
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posted
I'm glad I went directly through Roland when I bought my equipment.
When I called them to ask about what I would need to run one of their machines, they told me right out I could use any mainstream graphics software with it, including photoshop, Illustrator and CorelDRAW.. all of which I already had! I think the problem with dedicated sign making software is that they are trying to reinvent the wheel. All the main layout and design features that are new to sign software have been in Corel and Illustrator for years.
CoCut has the right idea though.. make software that can add sign making tools like automatic weed borders and tiling/paneling to a mainstream program.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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