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Software Recommendation
Hey guys,
Currently my work process for cutting vinyl is to do my design in illustrator. Then separate each color into its own eps file and then import into versa works. I currently do the layout and registration marks manually.
What program can I import my design into. Specify each colour outline seperatly I guess and then output to the cutter?
I wouldn’t mind having automatic registration marks also supplied with multiple coloured designs.
I don’t need tones of design tools I still prefer illsutrator to design in. But for output of cutting I wouldn’t mind having a simplistic program which could handle this. It would make it a lot easier for my program to take prepare artwork to cut.
Thanks
Jason -
12 Replies
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Currently playing with Flexi Sign 7.6. Seems to be doing what I want. Just have to learn how to nest jobs of the same colour.
At the moment when I hit send it starts cutting on my cutter automatically.
How do I get the nesting to work?
Cheers
Jason -
Jason.
That’s the way I have worked for years, design in Illustrator and then use a bridge programme, in my case on a different computer, to get it to the cutter. Unfortunately the programme that has served us well for years is no longer available so I am also looking for a replacement.
Illustrator plug-ins are a bit of a non starter. Too unwieldy, plus I have to pay for a complete copy of Illustrator on the second computer.
Currently in the frame is MacSign. You would only need the Lite version. http://www.softeamweb.com
I think you will have trouble with registration marks. I have never found a programme that can put them in without wasting an awful lot of vinyl.
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Jason
nesting is done in Flexi (go to arrange menu), automatic reg marks go to advanced tab in Production Manager. Once you get into it you will use it all the timeKev
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Jason, sorry can’t help to much with this one, I was going to suggest a plug in for illustrator as I know some people use them to plot straight from illustrator but John says they aren’t that good.
As for Flexi, I don’t use it myself as I can’t afford it but I use an older program that Scanvec made before Flexi called inspire, with that you have an option in the Production manager to either plot the job as soon as it is sent from inspire or to hold it. All the tools for things like nesting are in the production manager so they need to be set up from within production manager itself not from within inspire. If scanvec havent changed to much then I would have a good look round the production manager settings. -
Hi Jason
You could look at Vinyl Master Pro. I think it would do what you want.
retails at $499.00 here in Australia from Supply one & no doubt many other suppliers.
Cheers Mike -
Thanks guys,
I played with flexi abit more tonight. Seems to be doing what I want. Even my brother can use it :P.
Cheers
Jason -
Hi Jason,
i have the new Flexicut V8 and use it along side illustrator and find it great to work with. Some of my customers send me illustrator files outlined and i only have to open them in flexi, size them up and cut. Nice and easy, no hastle, unlike most of the work we all do. 😀Cheers
Ewan.
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Interesting you should say that Ewan.
I tried FlexiCut 10/12 years ago and found it far more complicated and difficult to learn than it should be. Within a week I had dumped it and moved to CutLine, which we have been using ever since.
Now that CutLine is no longer available for modern machines maybe I should take another look at Flexi.
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Hi John,
to tell the truth the new flexi is much more user friendly than the old versions. The only problem is that flexicut is £1100 and flexiexpert is £1700. The only difference between them is that flexiexpert does colour vectors and flexicut does not, but anything i want to vector i just turn it to grey scale.Personally i think it’s worth every penny and has paid for it’s self in about 3 months and as i said it links very well with illustrator.Cheers
Ewan.
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quote Ewan Roberts:The only problem is that flexicut is £1100
Is it really. 😮
I’d better look for a Plan B then. I’m not paying that for something to do as simple a job as running a cutter.
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sign lab is my chosen one easy to work with in both just normal vinyl cut, and using with jv3 print and cut .
Lynn
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It’s not just running your cutter,you can artwork on it and import vehicle outlines. Then you can export the file in any format that you like. For example, i can import a vehicle outline, do the design work, size it up to actual size, export as a pdf and email to the client for approval. Once approved,all i need to do is nest the graphics and cut. Saves a lot of time and effort.
Cheers
Ewan.
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