Signlab 7.1 version coming, is it an upgrade?

[Stephen Morriss]

Hope it isn’t they havn’t sorted out the problems in 7 yet, no way am I paying to upgrade if they can’t be bothered to get the last one right! 👿

[Neil Riley]

Well aparently they’ve released 7.1 now, somewhere in the world??
It looks like it has some nice new features:

PostScript 3 RIP includes AGFA Color Management Engine, production queue with job scheduling & archiving, auto nesting, pre-view ripped file, hot folder support

Create new printer profiles for new media from desktop color scanner

Apply PhotoShop plug-in effects to scaleable text & vector graphics

Fantastic FontsT feature automatically creates text with printing fills

Drivers and ICC profiles for all major sign printers and hybrid printer/cutters

I like the sound of being able to use photoshop plugins directly to text and vector objects. Not sure how this would work though.
Gotta be better that converting everything to huge bitmaps then adding clipping paths & outlines etc.

[David Evans]

Hello,

This is a quick summary of Signlab 7.1 features, its shipping in the US now and should be available very shortly (if not already) in the UK. The rest of Europe has to wait a bit for translations etc..
Not sure why 7.0 isnt available in Oz, who is the dealer down there and I will make some enquires.

Signlab 7.1 is not a bug fix for 7.0. 7.1 is about new features the incremental version number is because it add PDF support, below is a quick summary.

1. PDF support, both importing and exporting.
You can now import PDF files into CDL and publish CDL files as PDF and / or send in an e-mail.
You can also link PDF and PostScript files now in addition to EPS.

2. A calibration system (patent pending) has been developed to allow user to create print modes for there own media using standard desk top scanners.
You can use expensive equipment for the creation of ICC profiles as well, but for most users they can get good results just using there scanner.

3. Pantone palettes are available now as an option.

4. There are 5 Eye Candy effects now included as part of Signlab 7.1, these are ShadowLab, Bevel Boss, Chrome, Corona and Gradient glow.
In addition these (and any other plugins) can now be applied directly to a vector in a unique and simple fashion.
Plug-ins are bitmap effects, but for the very first time they can be easily applied to vectors directly. The vector remains an acts as a clipping path and the bitmap effect automatically bleeds to ensure no jaggies at the edges.
You can use these to create both fill or add effects to existing fills.
This is probably the coolest feature added to Signlab or any design program in the last 10 years. Previously you need to be a bit of a wizard to create these kind of effects and now its easy and available to anyone with Signlab 7.1.

5. Perforated Window feature for inkjets. Use a print and cut sequence with any printer / cutter combination to create see through graphics.

There are a number of smaller features and improvements in addition to the main features list above.

Best regards

-David Evans
Printing products manager.
Cadlink.

[Peter Normington]

So the question we all want answered,
How much?
Peter

[Alan Drury]

May not be just a bug fix for V7 but has it fixed bugs that are in V7
Alan

[David Evans]

I dont know what the upgrade pricing is, you will need to contact the UK office or your dealer.

Do you have a list of specific bugs in 7.0, if so I will let you know if they are fixed or not.

Best regards

-David Evans
Cadlink.

[Alan Drury]

Speak to Ray, I’ve already told him of a couple within the last couple of weeks, one or two I’ve not mentioned from E6 that carried over.
Alan

[Neil Riley]

Thanks for the info David.
They are some GREAT new features.

I spoke to my dealer yesterday and he has just got his first copy.
I’m in for one next week or 2.
Cost for me to upgrade from e6 Colormaster is AU $995 which is about 400 quid.