Sign Go Compared With SIGNLAB E6

[Lee Jones]

Nothing wrong with basic software, you just got to ask yourself ……….. is the type of work your doing, warrant spending more money on new software ?

My first Roland cutter came with software called Sign Script, and this was back in 91, nothing fancy, only 330kb and all came on a single floppy, basically a cutting interface for corel draw, but having used Illustrator on Macs for years I used that instead of corel for all the layout and on a PC with just a 486 processor, still it works today except its used for CNC routing only. I output the finished design as an EPS. Used it for many years with no real need to upgrade as this combination done everything I needed at the time.

Obviously no printing facilities included, but at the time it worked for me, so why change !

[Roy Roberts]

Thanks for that Lee, :lol1:
I used and still do for basic vinyls Roland Stika, in fact Ive just cut an 8ft x 2ft (Metric = this big by that big) sign for a customer.
I have a PC60 😛 (I LIKE IT) 😛 which I run with corel draw 8 and believe it or not I have only used it for colour prints along with frog juice on vehicles and never got round to using it to print & cut.
This was the main reason apart from shadows\backdrops on normal vinyl I bought Sign Go.
I have found this forum very helpful already and all respect to Rob, but sometimes feel I am running years behind when I read some of the subjects to do with vinyls and printing and the machines used 😮 .

[Lee Jones]

Unfortunately, its all too easy to get caught up in the next best thing in Software and Hardware. You’ll find every day someone on here jumping on the “Must Have the latest Large Format Digital Printer” bandwagon, which is fine, and I do not have a problem with that, as Versacamms / Cadets are fantastic peices of kit, and would really love one myself, but do I really need one at this present time or is it just a want, No. I’d sooner sub out to someone else, “and spend me money on other things “, and your spoilt for choice of owners who can do a decent job on this Forum.
With more and more people owning a large format printer, the pricing will just become too competative, and a price war is starting even now.

I don’t know the percentages, but this forum is full of questions related to digital printing problems, the inks, the substrates, the software /RIP, do I, or do I not laminate, the rub test. Pheeew its seams a sure method of sending anyone to an early grave in my opinion.

Perhaps sometime I might brush off the moths from my wallet, and buy one, but for now I’m happy to buy in what I need on the odd occasion a digital print is required. I’m trying to learn some of the traditional skills, and really enjoy it !

Just realised my ramblings have gone abit off topic, but just needed to get that off my chest.

[John Singh]

quote HIGHVISMAN:

but sometimes feel I am running years behind when I read some of the subjects to do with vinyls and printing and the machines used 😮 .

You can catch up here Visman:

Up to the date info:

Make sure you clean your brushes well and leave the sables shaped with a bit of petroleum jelly.

Dropping a bit of oil size into to your One Shot deters drying quickly and brush snagging on those hot days.

Use masking tape to snap a line if your on your tod (never use red chalk as its stains permanently)

Mark out in charcoal if the Shop keeper suddenly wants to add something to his bullet list

Dip your mahl stick in some french chalk to prevent soiling of work piece.

Use wide masking tape to cover your dippers if you have to finish for the night

Thin your one shot down to the right consistency with white spirit to prevent tackiness (brush will flow beautifully)

Use the right number sable for width of the letter

These are just a few that should keep you relatively up to date

But remember tomorrows another day and new stuff will come onto the market so you do well to log in regularly

John

[Roy Roberts]

😀 Nice one john 😀
I had the pleasure of watching 😮 an artist sign a vintage lorry for one of my friends, 😮 That was Art.
He said that vinyl was the way forward and his art was a dying trade 😥
I was amazing to see how he arched the text etc. and his comment about the sides of the cab not looking identical when hand painted.
(YOU NEVER SEE BOTH DOORS AT ONCE).
This is why I went for Vinyl as I’m about as artistic as Tony Blair is Prime Minister :lol1: :lol1: .
I think the trade we are in is like a car lot, different makes and models some fast some slow and the obvious with no mot or tax.

[John Singh]

He was probably lamenting at the fact that the brush seems to be pushed to one side today for the vinyl

However there’s always a demand for traditional methods and that demand would be higher if the general public were not conditioned into thinking all the traditionalists are pushing up daffodils and long ridden off into the sunset.

For some clients nothing else will do but the brush

What is good, and you will see examples on the board, is the working together of the two mediums in one project. A little bit of this and a little bit of that. So becoming a dab hand with the brush could get you out of a tight corner (as has happened to me on many occasions)

John

[John Singh]

A case in point: A client today absolutely insisting that his new fascia board be made traditionally using wood and signwritten by hand. Its in tandem with a new traditional roller blind he has just ordered. Nothing else will do he said.

John

[Roy Roberts]

Hi John, 😎
How do the traditional sign writers make it pay, 😮 😮
Being an avid angler I was asked to quote to revamp a tackle shop front and windows, (buy my bits and pieces there). 😀
The front was approx 24ft x 2ft all wood with paint peeling in places.
I suggested 3 sheets of 8ft x 2ft with vinyl lettering (Thought of using 5mm white plexi glass) (?) , Quoted incl fitting a rough figure of £300.00 and he laughed. :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:
He said the local sign-writer has quoted £80.00 to do the whole job i.e. repaint the whole sign and re-write. 😕 🙂
I told him to snatch his hand off.
Still wants me to do some window decals though. 🙂

[Phill Fenton]

Don’t believe everything your customer tells you.

It’s not unusual to hear “I’ve had a better quote – but would rather you did the job. Can you match their price? –

I usually say “nope” 😛

[Roy Roberts]

I must admit Phill he still has not had the job done yet (!)