which software can i use with the artcut 2005 please?

[Graeme Harrold]

Not used Corel X3 yet, got too many other upgrades in the que first. I have however used Corel from version 4 to 12 and as yet I have no major issues with the software. It does exactly what I want it to do and much much more.

V12 is fantastic and cheaper than X3………….do you need the most up to date software when an earlier version will probably do the same tasks you are after. Not trying to put you off X3, but as a ‘start up’ could you spend the cash better else where

Cheers

[Tris Gee]

hi Graeme, your probably right there with your advice. does v12 have the capability to draw shapes, and loads of fonts for me to do vinyl on vehicles? does it also have any vehicle outlines on it?
ta

[Graeme Harrold]

I am but a humble engraver and as such only interested in the vectored line. Corel is an extremely powerful package for not just simple shapes, but complex graphics with detailed fills.

Vehicle outline graphics are not included however there is 1000’s of other clip art and graphics files on the disc. There are plenty of posts on here about vehicle outline graphic CD’s, Just use the search box above to find them.

[Martin Pearson]

Tris, what ever software you buy for your design work it won’t come with any vehicle outlines on it. You will need to buy a vehicle outline disc separately. There are a few different ones available but most people on the boards use the ones from Impact Graphic Solutions. Brian is a supplier that uses the boards and is very helpful.
Not sure what the difference in price is between corel 12 and X3 and I don’t use it myself but a lot of people have said the autotrace for vectorising is very good in X3 and that is something that would be very useful to you so if you could aford X3 it might be a better bet. As I say I don’t use it myself so maybe better coming from someone who has used both.

[Alan Drury]

I use Signlab, Easysign and Corel X3 and used to use V12, if your budget is tight then Corel V12 will suit your needs. X3 does have advantages over V12 the 2 most obvious for vinyl work is – contour (cuttable outline) are now beziers not hundreds of straight lines and PowerTrace which is better than V12, that said centre tracing and one or two trace effects have been removes although I don’t think that will be an issue if it is vinyl lettering and logos you will be doing. Other improvements are probably geared more to the print industry although import and export filters are upgraded. A full version will come with fonts and clipart although X3 does have the fonts in Opentype format, V12 was True type and Type1, clipart is improved as well and there are vehicle outlines mainly from MR Clipart I believe, not very well labelled and probably more American must admit I’ve not explored them much as I think Brian’s offering at Impact are better.
Did you have any specific questions on various features of Corel, glad to help if I can.
Alan D

[Tris Gee]

hi Alan, thanks for your reply, helps alot. as you gather i want to do vinyl lettering and logos, designs all on vinyl. alot of people suggest corel, so i think i will give it a try. just wondered what the difference between teacher and student version is to full blown version, and where to purchase either v12 or x3. many thanks

[Martin Pearson]

Tris, you learn something new everyday. Sorry I didn’t realise that Corel came with some vehicle outlines, as I said before I am not a corel user. If they are the Mr Clipart ones though be very careful, I have not used them myself but do remember a few members on the boards complaining that they were mainly American and also that they were not that accurate size wise as well. Impacts disk is produced for the UK market and I have always found the sizes to be pretty accurate although if I were doing a type of van I hadn’t done before I would always just double check the panel size with the drawings.

[Tris Gee]

hi Martin, ive just purchased the vehicle library from impact,as everyone says the same about it like yourself, and the chap i spoke to was very helpful!!

[Alan Drury]

Tris, Amazon is as good a place as any to get Corel. I am not totally sure of the difference between Student and full, a visit to http://www.corel.com and/or the Corel New Group may well help. I don’t think you get a printed manual with the student version and I’m not sure if bits are disabled or if you have an upgrade path in the future. It would mainly be infringement of licence if you were to use it commercially or if you were not in full time education, that said many, many people do use the student version commercially and I’ve never heard of anybody getting busted, not that I would condone it.
Alan D