What Software ?

[Cookster]

If you want to do it on the cheap I would reccomend the basic signlab package which will cost around a couple of hundred sqid use this with coreldraw you will be able to do most stuff. If your in the auto trade and want to do go faster stuff get a copy Graphics to Go from Impact Sign Solutions will be the way to go.

Best of luck!

[J. Hulme]

You could use coreldraw, but will only confuse the matter, I absolutely hate it, but that’s not the point, it will do all (and far more) than dedicated sign software at three times the price, I also hate to say it but a secondhand copy of signlab maybe better if only its ease of use and setup, possibly one of signlabs’ strengths over its opposition.
Lower priced (if there is such a thing) basic versions of signlab are constricting and don’t offer much to write home about, corel runs rings around these but has a steep learning curve whereas signlab hasn’t.
Get em all !

All have strengths and weaknesses, you’ll find you may need certain elements of a few brands and some parts may work better than others, I have even been known to use coreldraw (rarely, under the cover of darkness ) but I will never admit to it. 😳

Download a demo version from the manufacturers sites, will give you a feel of the interfaces.

[Bill Dewison]

quote outline:

I have even been known to use coreldraw (rarely, under the cover of darkness ) but I will never admit to it. 😳

(grab) (grab) (grab) (grab)

Gotcha!!!!!!!!!! 😀 Go on, what did you use it for? 😀 Bet you it wasn’t for making birthday cards? 😉 😉 😉 😉 Only pulling yer leg 😀

Software wise, its your business at the end of the day. Whether its Signlab, Flexisign or CorelDraw (with CoCut or similar) its the thing that makes your plotter do its thing. No doubt it’ll make you cringe to spend the cash, but whatever you choose, you’re looking at spending a couple of hundred.

Humble opinion, but there really isn’t alot to choose between the software packages out there. They all have their advantages, disadvantages, but its personal preference to which one suits you. For the cheapest option, SignGo do a 30 day demo or you can pick up a 2nd hand version of CorelDraw for £20, buy CoCut for about £90 and you’re on the road to designing the sign and cutting the vinyl 😀

Cheers, Dewi

[J. Hulme]

quote Dewi:

Gotcha!!!!!!!!!! 😀 Go on, what did you use it for? 😀 Bet you it wasn’t for making birthday cards? 😉 😉 😉 😉 Only pulling yer leg 😀

I used it to print birthday cards with 😉 ,

Nah, not really, intricate to setup the palette to spot colours but once its up and going no problems, flexi sets palette up to spots without any of the fuss, but as you say £20 for the same power as around £1500 worth of its competitors software I know what I’d buy even if it is time consuming to learn and use.

[Andy Gorman]

I found Corel pretty easy to learn for the basics, but then I suppose I am still learning it after about 10 years. Good point about the different packages all having their strengths and weaknesses; I tried to outline a load of text in Coreldraw today, hopeless. In my opinion, a complete novice to design software would get on better with a dedicated sign package such as Signlab, but I rate stuff like Corel and Illustrator MUCH higher although, as already mentioned, a lot more to learn.

[Bill Dewison]

Outlining in Corel can be a chore 🙁 I know this is straying from the subject a little, but if you outline in smaller increments, ie .5 rather than 1’s, then weld all the .5s together, you end up with a nice smooth rounded outline. Can be hard work when you have alot to outline, but once practised, this can be done in no time. And not a birthday card in site 😉 😉 😉 Still tickles me every time I load up CorelDraw that one 😀

Cheers, Dewi

[Robert Scullion]

THANKS GUY’S

THE GENERAL OPINION SEEMS TO BE SIGNLAB. I AM ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A COPY, 2ND HAND PREFERABLY TO KEEP COSTS DOWN.

I HAVE A COPY OF COREL AND AS MOST OF YOU SAY ITS A BIT TRICKY ESPECIALLY FOR A NOVICE LIKE ME.

IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING THEY MIGHT FEEL WOULD BE OF USE PLEASE LET ME KNOW

THANKS AGAIN