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is adobe ilustrator CS2 a good signmaking tool?
Just wondered if anyone has used this software, and is it any good as a tool for a signmaker? According to Adobe it’s very good, but they would say that wouldn’t they! Comments from any users greatly appreciated.
Spooky
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23 Replies
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Well, it’s not a dedicated signmaking package, but then it isn’t the same price either.
It will do everything I want to do and so I’ve been using Illustrator since the day I stared in this business and have never felt the need to look at anything else.
You won’t go far wrong with it.
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I’d take alook at Corel Draw, will give you far more for your money and possibly easier to use.
Alan D -
Spooky… what an odd name.
Anyway, Adobe Illustrator was one of the first applications dedicated to computer illustration, it become the defacto standard. Other applications like Corel Draw are available. In the Sign Makers world, you can use dedicated applications like SignLab/FlexiSign and so forth, however the Adobe product does not have any ‘control’ for a vinyl cutter built in, this is the difference. However there are 3rd party programs that can control a Sign makers tools.
As Adobe played the biggest part in developing Printing design software, it is considered that their products are number one. They also developed the file transfer bits like Postscript,EPS and PDF languages.
There you have it.
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Hi Spooky, Cute name OK I have used illustrator and i have used Corel but when it comes to more option definitely I will say use illustrator its the best especially now CS2 you can vectorize raster images in it . its so cool . i have been using it for the past 6 years starting with Version 7 and up never needed any other software if you need help just let me know.Nancy
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quote wannousnancy:if you need help just let me know.NancyI think I need HELP Nancy, just letting you know…
😀
Peter
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quote Alan Drury:I’d take alook at Corel Draw, will give you far more for your money and possibly easier to use.I’m with Alan on this one, Corel Draw is better value for the average sign maker… even if you have sign making software it is useful for importing files.
Nick.
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Hi
I guess its whatever program you cut your teeth on when first getting in to graphics – for me Corel I just find it an easier learning curve and if its sign design much easier than Illustrator. Illustrator justs seems so much more complicated even to produce the simpler stuff and understanding layers – well……but maybe because my learning curve was Corel wanting to understand all the bells and whistles on Illustrator holds no appeal. I have both programs however just for the import file options they give me when receiving all the different formats from Clients.
For sign packages the dedicated software Sign Lab/Flexi makes some design and certainly production a lot easier but if say a customer gives me a jpg image to vectorise Flexisign has a good autotrace but if the autotrace is not adequate and I need to create by tracing manually Corel is my first choice.
I would have a go at a demo first or ask a friendly Illustrator based signmaker if he has 15 minutes to show you before spending your brass
Mike
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I have been using Adobe Illustrator for years, I found it easy to learn, very flexible and productive until recently.
I am running verison 10, ok its a few years old but caters for my needs. However I’m receiving more and more .ai files / artwork produced with CS from my customers and its not back compatible. It can be very difficult to open / import into previous verisons of AI, this is a royal pain in the ar$e !Maybe some you illustrator guru’s could give me a few pointers as to where I’m going wrong, or is this just adobes way of strong arming everyone to up-grade ! 👿
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hi dave i had the same problem just been looking for the thread
it was lynn who helped me out i think
i now ask any customers with c.s to export the files as legacy eps files it will then ask which version of a.i go down to 3 and you should have no problems opening in 10 although i use corel i think you should be okhope this works for you
Derek
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Cheers for that Derek, I’ve made a note and stuck a post-it on my monitor, I should remember. Its amazing how much time these little problems cost.
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Thanks for all your replies, especially Nancy’s! 😳 I already use SignLab which some of you may have known from previous posts. The problem as many will know are the import filters which are as much use as an ash tray on a motorbike! I am weighing up the benefits between Adobe Illustrator CS2 or Corel Draw. Design friends say go the whole way and get Adobe and you will be working with the industry standard blah, blah! And yet I have used Corel way back when I used to convert to curves and send it to cutting software, and it seemed very easy to design with etc?
In a nutshell this programme will be used mainly to import designers files and maybe the odd bit of design, but I do like the sound of the vector art facility that Adobe CS2 has to offer? So based on that will Corel do everything I need, and can it take away my importing headaches. I like life to be nice and easy, I don’t like no negative vibes!
Cheers Spooky (you’ll never guess why I’m called that!) 😎
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why are you called Spooky ? How are you today? Illustrator is s good trust me i can post you some files i did and drawn but there is something wrong with adding attachments from here 🙁
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quote wannousnancy:but there is something wrong with adding attachments from here 🙁hi nancy whats the problem with the attatchments? 😀
nik
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Nik its happening again. Same as last time all I’m trying to send is a font.
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in this area? no attachments allowed here.
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no not in here it was in another forum posted by BRAT.
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Thanks Nancy. You’re winning me around to CS2. Love to see your files and anything else you would like to send me 😉 Think I might end up getting both, unless the arguments heavy in favour of one or the other. Can Corel handle all the imports thrown at it ie from Adobe users, anyone?
Regards, Spooky
PS Nancy keep guessing 😮
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PPS Almost forgot – I’m fine. How are you today?
The Spookster
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Hi Spooky,
Well i will email you some files via site here once i can attached some documents
files that can be read from illustrator a lot I used corel for one year i much prefer Adobe . very open lots u can do from drawing 2 layouts 2 illustrations as well exporting files to these format ( AMIGA IFF – AUTOCAD DWG – DXF- BMP- COMPUTER GRAPHICS META FILE CGM – FLASH FILES SWF – JPEG – MACINTOSH PCT – PCX – PHOTOSHOP FILES PSD – PIXAR PXR – SVG – SVGZ – TARGA TGA – TEXT FILES TXT – TIFF – COREL FILES – WMF . im sure with corel u can do half of all this. If you need help spooky just let me know and i will. why don’t you get a 30 days or so trial version for each software yeah try that Spooky
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Nynca, thx for your help in the topic… but my name is Bart not Brat 🙁 🙁 🙁 😉
You’re absolutely right about CS2. The LiveTrace function for vecorisation is simply the best on the market!!! It’s so easy to use and adjust… 😛Cheers,
Bart (not Brat)
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Bart…..
😀
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Bart, it’s N-A-N-C-Y not N-Y-N-C-A!
Yours, A. Pedant
PS Thanks, Nancy I might try that 30 day trial idea could be the answer.
Yours Spooky 😎
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Hi Bart not Brat sorry i was in a rush .
no problem any help let me know.
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