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what are other peoples views on Signlab 7.1?
I am considering upgrading to Signlab 7.1 print & cut to use alongside a Cadet solvent printer.
I wondered what other peoples views were on Signlab 7.1.
I understand it has a number of useful new features including "eyecandy" 3D effects that create soft shadows, chrome, Corona and bevelled edges – useful effects if running a print and cut machine. It also has it’s own RIP.
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35 Replies
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Phill, are you using an earlier version of signlab?
Pn -
I currently have signlab 5 colormaster 😀
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im sure we used to run eyecandy plgin with signlab 5. could be wrong i guess, was a while ago…
does eyecandy not plugin to corel also phill? you can create your images, dimentional text etc in that, create the contour cut and export direct to troop and away you go.. -
Phill, the plug ins are very usefull, I run SL 7 but the 7.1 version supports pdf,s as well. the eye candy stuff can also be applied directly to vectors, or so I was led to believe. which could be usefull. I do not do digital (sept gerber) so I am probably not the best to give you definative advice. All I can say is that if you already use Signlab, you are halfway familiar, wheras if you switch to something else you may be starting from scratch.
PN -
You can use Eye Candy in Signlab 5 as Robert said. I think its version 3 that will work with it (?)
Signlab 7 is brill, thats just my opinion. I just found it a bit awkward to to get used to the fonts as in 7 its on screen like Corel.
It is great for working with bitmaps, and the Transform options are so simple and fast to use (like fitting text to arcs).
Like Peter says its a new learning curve jumping from one to the other but you would probably get used to the new software very quickly.
Anyway, if rob digs deep and upgrades all our comps to SL7 im laughing, but i dont see it as hes stuck on sl5 😕
Andy
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The Eye Candy is MUCH easier to use in Signlab 7.1.
In Signlab 5.0 you have to convert your object to a bitmap, then select the area you wanted the effect with the magic wand tool.
Now as Peter says you can apply the effects directly to vectors. Signlab 7.1 Print & Cut also comes with a number of Eye Candy filters bundled with it.
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I think that 7.1 only comes with some of the eyecandy and adobe effects,
If you want the full range you have to cough up more dosh,
I stand to be corrected, Perhaps a Cadlink supplier board member could elaborate?
PN -
ahh yeh thats it… bitmap conversion to bevels etc
ive saw signlab 7 working, some great add ons as andrew says but i still prefer old layout. sl5 allowed you to choose which one, sl6 or 7 doesnt.. 😕
one thing though… someone says the other day that you can open sl7 files in sl5… is that right? didnt think it was but could be wrong now… 😕
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Rob, What did 5 allow you to to that 7 dont, layout wise that is, I started with 5 but it was so long ago I cant remember!
PN -
quote Peter Normington:I think that 7.1 only comes with some of the eyecandy and adobe effects,
If you want the full range you have to cough up more dosh,
I stand to be corrected, Perhaps a Cadlink supplier board member could elaborate?
PNThat’s why I said “a number” Pete. Didn’t say it came with all of them 😀 I think it’s fairly cheap to buy the full package.
It has 5…
Bevel Boss
Chrome
Corona
Gradient Glow
& ShadowlabYou can play around them & get a lot more than 5 effects though 😎
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quote Peter Normington:Rob, What did 5 allow you to to that 7 dont, layout wise that is, I started with 5 but it was so long ago I cant remember!
PNThink maybe Rob still uses the 4.95 text layout, via a dialog box? If he does he is certainly not alone!
Had a customer recently that went from 5.0 to 7.1 & he is very upset they done away with that option!
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quote Robert Lambie:one thing though… someone says the other day that you can open sl7 files in sl5… is that right? didnt think it was but could be wrong now… 😕
Think they were wrong mate 😮
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Its down to how confortable you are with what you use.
I have a very trusty and very sharp chisel, its like an old friend, but it cannot cut as fast, or as acurate as my dewalt.
PN -
yeh your right brian… its the 4.95 layout i prefer, sad i know, should move with times but im not alone, we have 4 folk using the 5 comps..
we all like the SL4.95 layout. andrew doesnt mind the new layout at all as he works in corel, ands others similar.peter our comps are networked, upgrading one would mean some files opening and some not. not worth the hassle when most like the old layout. i agree 7 has some really good new vector text manipulation features though. as for printing we are using photoshop and troop rip.
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A lot of people would still use version 4.95 if it ran properly on Wondows XP. You best hope when the next version of Windows come along you won’t have the same problem! a lot of people have upgraded from 4.95 not really because they want to, more they bought a new PC & had to upgrade.
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I’ve been trying out a demo version of 7.1 – but can’t find any of the eye candy effects?
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Don’t think they are on the demo Phill. I think it’s is something to do with Cadlink having to pay a licence fee to have them. If it was there it would be at the bottom of the image menu..
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Trouble is phill, the demo is not the all singing and dancing version.
My long complaint with cadlink, is that they should supply a time limited demo, rather than a restricted one. So at least you would be able to produce some work and evaluate it properley, before buying. After all you wouldnt buy a car unless you could try it out on the road first, would you?
PN -
I upgraded to 7.1 print & cut from e6 colormaster and I can say it’s definately worth it. The new rip alone is worth the upgrade price.
You have to be prepared to dig right in and find the best input & output profiles and settings for your printer, but once you’ve got it right you won’t want to use anything else. You can also linearize and refine existing printmodes to suit different medias.
You can now independently select profiles for RGB lineart, RGB bitmaps, CMYK lineart and CMYK bitmaps.
This means you can output a file with an RGB bitmap (with a corresponding RGB profile), at the same time as CMYK vectors (with a seperate CMYK profile).The advantage of this is that you can turn off the CMYK profile, but still use the RGB profile. You would turn off the CMYK profile to allow the printer to print the actual CMYK colours that you mixed in the palette – without having a profile trying to alter the colour. So you know if you mixed say 100%Y and 50%M, that is exactly what the printer will print.
I have a hexachrome mild solvent printer and the output I’m getting is perfect. Bright colourful bitmaps alongside true vector/lineart colours.
As well as the plugins, you can also do a lot of image editing on screen such as levels, curves, re-sampling etc.
The PDF publisher is great for sending proofs via email.
All in all, if you’ve got a printer, and you already use Signlab, then you really should consider upgrading.
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You can’t use eyecandy effects (plug in)on vectors in signlab well at least I cant even if you transform text to graphics still doesn’t do it unless I am doing something wrong.
Not impossible you know.Goop
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Is that 7.1? goop
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If he does, then he is doing something wrong. Thought you had 7.0 though Goop?
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Having weighed up all the pros and cons I have decided that I would be better off learning to use Photoshop instead 😀
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Yeah Ver 7 Rev 1
Still supposed to be able to use eyecandy an at tho
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Goop you need signlab 7.1 Not 7 revision 1. Confused. Just send your signlab supplier some more money and you will be able to use the plug ins on vectors.
Peter -
Please can anyone help me with an eyecandy problem.
I had it installed in cadlink 7 but after having trouble with the computer have just had to reinstall eyeady 4000 and alien skin eyecandy 5 as heyhad disappeared….
they now show in the image but not highlighted and now the colour adjustments wont highlight either….really need help to sort this asap please 🙁 -
The image needs to be RGB for eye candy
Perhaps this is the problem, just select image/mode RGB and the filters should come back.Peter
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cant select even that Peter its not highlighted wither didnt realise till now
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Ok, just to make sure its not something silly.
start a new workspace, import a jpeg/bmp (or drag and drop)
click on the image, then the options and filters should be highlighted, and you can alter the image,
If this isnt the case I would reinstall signlab, it may be quicker than trying to sort.Peter
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well that worked thankyou but why isnt it working on something i am just designing..does it mean i have to design and save and then import on a new file
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oh it wont let me use eyecandy it says reg number isnt installed and I have done it several times and I know its correct hairpulling time me thinks
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Lyndy
are you using signlab 7 rev 1, or 7.1?Peter
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7 the alien skin eyecandy 5 is working after I imported as you said but not the 4000
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I might be wrong here, but I thought one was an upgrade of the other?
do you not have all the available filters in eyecandy 5?Peter
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no its not all the same
However the problem appears that I cant find the exe file…the reg code is in the system so thats not a problem..might end up having to re-purchase 4000
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