Which Software and Why!!

[Rodney Gold]

We use a combination of software for various reasons , initially in the mid and early 80’s , all there really was in terms of CAd was AutoCad , so a LOT of our artwork is in that format , we started with Corel in terms of thermal digital printing , so have continued with it. We use profile lab and signlab with our large format overhead routers etc.
In essence , we use Corel 11 and autocad 2000 as prime design tools , we run signlab 5, profilelab , Adobe illustrator 9, Freehand10 , Photoshop CS etc as well for opening , importing and exporting files as well as being able to do stuff other packages cant.
We find that the BIGGEST factor in terms of what we use as interfaces to our machines is the ability to correctly import and export other formats , and Corel 11 is superb at that (mostly)
another factor as well is how the drivers in the packages work with those machines.
Thing is this , we do printing , cutting , engraving and laser engraving and having to run a zillion packages is a nightmare , apart from which we have about 15 devices we “print” to and about 6 computers and design stations and most of these “stations” print to ALL devices and most run XP pro
So whatever we use has to be dongle free and be stable under XP and we find Corel the best (dongles mess with some of our devices , thus I will NEVER run a package that cant be supplied without one – the only dongled package I have is Profilelab and I have to run it on a puter NOT connected to the overhead router)
I like signlab as well but its a little flaky sometimes and the WORST thing is the screen resolution in signlab – its not at all good and I cant seem to find any setting that improves it??
Albeit we have 3 machines that can cut vinyl , we hardly ever do so , so in terms of solid vinyl cutting I can’t comment as to what package has the best features for just doing that.

[John Childs]

Adobe Illustrator. It came as part of the package I bought when I started up and still does everything I want to do. Also, it’s cheap when compared to dedicated sign packages.

The cutters are driven by Illom Cutline. This is now a bit dated, with no sign of an upgrade, but, again, it still does the job and has the benefit of being easy to use and therefore quick to train new staff.

[Pryam Carter]

Alright Lawrence………

i used to run with Signlab e6 for all the cutting stuff but now l have a versacamm l find myself using Corel 11 pretty much all of the time. Like Rodney said it’s great for importing / exporting different files and folders. I also use photoshop quite a bit, it has some nice little tools in there making it great for graphic stuff as well as the photo work. Combine those three with the RIP package and thats my lot.

[Robert Lambie]

everything vinyl i use Signlab, Beeline & Impact
everthing web related i use Dreamweaver
everything to do with picture images i use Photoshop 7
everything for printing onto whatever.. ill very soon be using a combination of Photoshop 7 and Troop software-RIP from B&P…

[J. Hulme]

quote chunkielad:

Music Production – soundforge, Cubase and ejay

Try Wavelab, Soundforge is just as good but I use both, Cubase is anal, I prefer Cakewalk, I find it excellent with MIDI system exclusive for modules and real cards ala Yamaha SW1000XG, ejay’s just a toy for children.
Try Acid Pro, the most productive music software you will ever have the pleasure of meeting, we write finished audio output .Wav to acid, mix through acid, export to stereo audio to cakewalk and add layered Midi, export back to soundforge(I think, maybe Wavelab)
and convert with the plug in MP3 module.

It’s more complicated if you’re not using General Midi.

[Rodney Gold]

Robert , we have just upgraded to Photoshop CS (PS8) and it is a vastly improved product , especially its vector capabilities and integration with illustrator and its web abilities. My main reason was its digital photography side (It has all sorts of delicious goodies for the photgrapher) but the other stuff is also worth it.

[Alan Drury]

Vinyl = Signlab E6 – Easysign V3 – Corel Draw V10
Typesetting = Corel Draw V10 – PagePlus V9
Image editing = Corel Photo Paint
Web = Namo Web Editor V5.5
Acrobat V5
Utilities = FileEx – Transmac – Crossfont
Alan

[J. Hulme]

quote chunkielad:

Don’t use midi much so cubase is good enough and ejay is for simple samples to make porno style music for health and safety vids – never make real music 😉

Cubase (depending on the version you use) then is far beyond your needs.
A simple wavetable soundcard with basic GM Midi sequencer would cater for your requirements.
Ejay uses encoded samples, useless anywhere else apart from the ejay software. Acid, on the other hand uses .wav or MP3 and maybe a few others, resincs BPM to whatever you require without loss of quality, within reason of course, you can’t resinc 200BPM to 20BPM , you can beatmatch MP3 on the Pro 4 version to your project and even add video, mix, edit etc through your assigned editor. Once you try this you’ll forget ejay ever existed.