KevinGaffney
Forum Replies Created
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Print Solutions my choice for many many years. Another major advantage, if youre into digital printing, they have a great guy called Gery who does all their ink calibrations and can advise on suitable materials for each printing job. I find that service invaluable
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We use MobileMe. All my customers are sent an email with a final artwork so even in the event of losing files and backups, I could still track jobs from the email attachments I sen out
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Hard to see what he’s doing there Harry. When I send files to anyone from my mac t’s in pdf format. I just choose which type of file from illustrator and attach it. Can’t see why he can’t do that
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That’s terrific Harry.
Thanks a million -
I think Shane, like with the iPhone, and we know what a success story that is, a lot will depend on the apps that will develop for the iPad. The way I see it, if a cut down version of illustrator and photoshop was available for it, the iPad could prove very useful as an on site design tool. You could show pre prepared artwork to a customer and make modifications. This could be achieved easily on a construction site environment where a laptop might be a little cumbersome.
I see potential for professionals with this but will probably need twelve months or so for it to reach something near it’s full potential as it is a new idea.
Personally, I love the simplicity and efficiency of all Apple products -
That’s the point I’m making Nigel. All customers are different and need to be dealt with in different ways. If you’re doing work for a semi state body, a local council or health, do you look for a deposit? Answer is you can’t in that case. It isn’t always feasible to get a deposit and looking for one in some cases can be counter productive. I have also found in the past, that in some cases a customer who offers a deposit can be slowest to pay the balance when job is finished
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This thing can work two ways though. Met a client yesterday who was looking for a load of dibond signs. Got the order, but during discussions, he revealed he didn’t have a proper company logo despite being in business over twenty years. I offered to design him a new logo for free. He was hugely thankful and proceeded to add signwriting of hi eight articulated trucks and set of raised lettering spanning a thirty foot cladded wall. His place is 220 km from my workshop. If I had looked for a deposit, the meeting wouldn’t even have taken place, never min securing three weeks work. So, I don’t think it’s correct to always insist on deposits, every customer has to be handled differently
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That’s all very well insisting on a deposit, but unfortunately a lot of our competition out there re quite happy to provide free artworks to clients, so unfortunately we often have to take a chance and do the same.
It’s a sad fact, but many clients put absolutely no value on our design time. -
Hi Craig. Nice to see someone eventually getting the point of my post. You can probably save yourself some time and legal expense by checking with your internet service providers. I think you’ll find they all take a dim view of spamming and may block service if reported.
However, I’ll be curious to see what your policies will be in the future regarding this matter. -
OK I started this topic so it’s probably time to end it.
Why do some people on this board feel comfortable with supporting marketing tactics that are clearly illegal. Do you draw the line at robbing fonts, designs. Clearly newcomers probably need educating re their marketing strategies. However I’m more than surprised at some of the flippant comments I’ve seen over the last few days.
Does this mean, as some have suggested, it’s ok to speed?
Doest it mean it’s ok to use pirated sodftware?
I wonder -
Now you know the situation Brian, if you buy a legitimate version, you shouldn’t have any more problems and if you do Scanvec Amiable will be able to sort it
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Do you realize Brian, the rest of us wouldn’t have to pay so much for our legit software if people didn’t use cracked versions. How are legit sign companies supposed to compete price wise with those that effectively software
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You could try clearing preferences. If that doesn’t work try reinstalling flexi as it may have become corrupt
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With the trade prices we’re quoted for printing business cards, it’s not worth printing them yourself at all. Every Tom, Dick and Harry is doing them for nearly nothing
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Hi Cheryl.
You can use software like parallels. This allows you to run windows alongside the mac operating system so you can install any pc software you like.
The only downside is you then have to go down the route of anti virus software once you install windows. We use illustrator and it really is very similar to Corel I find -
I’ve been printing using flexi rip for five years now version 7.6. It does throw up the odd error which you learn to work around.
One problem I’ve found is a file greater than 150 mb will regularly stall during ripping. Remedy is to scale size back to less than that.
Files with a transparency also stall and need to be rasterised into a bitmap.
Some other files need to be rasterised and then printed. Try this and see do you still get the error -
Graeme. Good point, I will check that one later tonight.
Thanks Dorian for the link.
Rob, that’s fair comment but my main complaint is how a large franchise can advocate illegal marketing strategies. I don’t blame a new franchisee doing whatever is required to generate business but surely they should be advised when they are operating outside the law. It also begs the question, what other advice they are being offered re the sign industry.
I couldn’t care less about the competitor thing, cos I’m 25 years in the business and thankfully quite well established -
They actually did with me. However I tried to unsubscribe but continued to receive it. How dumb anyway to send this to your competition with links to a website showing pictures of completed work in the UK, and not one job these local guys had done themselves. Talking about looking professional
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Ok Robert. Leaflet drops are NOT illegal.
Unsolicited spamming IS. There is a difference. It’s ok for these Franchises to operate under one set of rules while the independent sigmaker is supposed to stay within the law. Unbelievable logic -
Interesting point Phill. Where do you draw the line with what is acceptable behaviour? It’s clear where Signs Express do.
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Hi Craig
I’ve checked with other business colleagues and they have also received unsolicited emails from Signs Express.
Blanket emailing even with an unsubscribe button, is illegal and not even ethical.
Perhaps, your members should be informed of this as it calls into question their business practices -
Sorry Phil
Unsolicited emailing or spamming is strictly against the law.
Doesn’t say much for the professionalism of start up businesses being encouraged to do this to the point of being supplied with the necessary list and templates to carry this out -
Switched from years of pc use to a macbook pro 15" three months ago. Best business move I’ve made. Love the thing. Illustrator and Photoshop fly on it.
Nice addition to have my favourite music in the background on itunes without messing up performance on the machine -
My ink an vinyl supplier carried out calibrations for me. Unbelievable difference in quality and ink usage since. I never switch suppliers now even if I was offered free vinyl. Just not worth the hassle
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We have been using one of the Graphtec machines shown by Rob for almost two and a half years now. Through much experimenting, I can say conclusively the most efficient way of working is to print to vinyl and mount to sheets using laminator. In the long run this proves much quicker and cost effective than printing direct to substrate. As a roll to roll printer, this machine is excellent especially since we had a bulk ink system fitted
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I use flexi and export as .ai file into toolpath software. Mainly prismatic lettering and works perfect.
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Working today but all gigital printing and cnc work. It’ll be well worth it cos I’ll be able to take a day at the end of the week for some golf. Times like these, I appreciate being self employed
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Could also be a heat issue. We always let vinyl warm up in machine for at least an hour before printing with room heaters on. will print all day, no probs. Anything else and banding is guaranteed
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I have several subdirectories for different types of work ie hanging signs, facia signs, vans etc. When a customer calls to look at samples, I call up relevant directory and show them a slide show of the particular type of work they wanted to see. When saving a file, I give it a full description like Joe Bloggs Transit van March 2001. That way when I do a search, all Joe Bloggs jobs will come up together with a description and original manufacture date. has worked well for me since 1994 when I began using Flexi
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Thanks Hugh. Good idea only pub is 4½ hours drive away. I won’t be fitting finished signs, they will be sent by courier.
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If you got to Scanvec Amiable website they sell training videoa I think for Flexi. If you have the time it would be worth your while brushing up on one of these. Its pretty easy to grasp anyway, I also use 7.5
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Sorry here are files. Forgot fs files not allowed. Saved as illustrator
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Here is the job in two flexi formats 6 and 7. You did’nt mention which one you are running
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Any idea of a rough cost of one of these things. Looks an expensive piece of kit
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This is really frustrating to see people with 20 years experience in the trade and tons of ability having to move on to work in other areas. While the computer has been a fantastic tool for most of us, unfortunately it has allowed people with little ability or experience to jump into the sign game. I know it’s probably an age old argument, but someone can’t get hold of a phase tester, spend a couple of weeks on a website and call themselves an electrician. Sign manufacture should be the same. Everyone should have to serve an apprenticeship, and I think it’s terrible to see people with real talent like Jill no longer doing what she clearly loves. I’m tempted to ramble more but Id better stop
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I’ve used a simple solution for getting at high areas on front of van. This only works where you have a roller door. I allow door down to a level a little above the height of the van. I then place aluminium ladder against door at roughly same angle as front of van. I then drive in van to within about 6″ of touching ladder. This allows me to work comfortably on any high areas. Important to have ladder held as it will be at maybe 45 degrees
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As mentioned, nearly all my work is 3d. Use Flexi for design. Toolpath studio is 3d software supplied with machine. It imports files saved in illustrator format with no probs. However the package is a almost identical to Signlab, with all the design features. Someone using Corel would easily adapt to designing in Studio if you had any probs importing files. Also AXYZ maintenance agreement is excellent and includes a free service each year for five years. They spend about four hours stripping down and cleaning all parts.
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I agree wholeheartedly. Have a Milenium 2 years now. Use for nearly all prismatic lettering. Totally hassle free. AXYZ are an excellent company to deal with. Cannot recommend them highly enough.
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Thanks for trying John. Every now and again you get a job that causes endless problems. I suspect this could be one of those
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Thanks John. Sent you file. Browser crashed towards end of sending and wondering if you got file
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Have done lots of these over the years. 3mm dibond is the job and if it has to be replaced we always use new dibond. Will not entertain the idea of stripping down panels. We usually charge the advertiser directly. That way they can claim back the vat. The sports people then charge the advertiser a yearly rental. Has always worked for us with no late payment issues
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Picked up software myself at Sign UK. Excellent images that have the appearance of being handpainted. Well worth the money. Think there are some new libraries coming out from Knomad
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I’m 21 years in this business and I stay a million miles away from window tinting. It’s a different trade and certainly not worth the hassle. You could make fifty correx signs while tinting a car, lots less hassle and a lot more profit
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Depends on what customer is willing to spend. If he does’nt mind paying for new perspex, then go that way. You’ll save a lot of time on cleaning down the old stuff anyway
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Very much full time. About 75% of our business is repetitive safety signage. Continually using same files to produce these. Often go a couple of weeks without having to produce a new flexi file
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A tip I use when getting a level on astras or vans like them is to run a narrow piece of masking along the side of the van. This I do by sight only. Sometimes takes three or four goes to get it right. Anyway the idea is all graphics can be lined up with this strip ensuring everything is running at the one level. Only a matter of getting original piece of tape looking right. A lways works for me
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A couple of years back, I fitted a 24ft * 2 ft aluminium sign on a warehouse for a new customer. After a couple of months, lots of promises and no money, I headed to his premises, took down the middle panel and brought it back to my workshop. He then rang me, hurled lots of abuse at me. I explained when I got full payment in cash, he could collect the panel and refit himself. It took him four or five weeks to pay up and called me a few choice names as he handed over the money. Now I do’nt know the legality of this approach, but I still smile when I think of it
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Found the show a little dissappointing this year. Beginnining to think a visit every second year is definately enough to keep up with new products. Did anyone wonder why so many machines were lying idle. Can’t really see the point in going to the bother of exhibiting machines with reams of paper just hanging from them
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Tahnks for all the advice guys. I must admit I am now leaning towards the idea of employing a graphic designer, perhaps part time initially. I may then take on some of the marketing myself in terms of mail shots. As has been mentioned here, us sign guys know best who we want to sell to and what we want to sell, so it probably makes sense to keep a close eye on the marketing end of things. Once again, thamks for all your advice
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Thamks Rodney.
How would you calculate salary, commissions etc for a rep. Are there companies that will look after the marketing on a commission basis -
We’re based in Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath. Same as previous posts, hope uou’re better than solas. Loads of companies here taking on agencies for printers etc. with no knowledge of service, stocking of parts. Buy all my gea4 from UK, can’t go wrong. Last purchase from AXYZ routers, fabulous service. Contacted Solas before buying re router, waste of time. Sorry
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Great idea. I use my cnc mainly for prismatic work but don’t do nearly as much engraving as I would like. Definitely think some inspiration could be had from an engraving forum. Looking forward to it
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You should’nt have to sacrifice quality by haggling. Theres no reason, if for example you prefer Avery vinyl that you can’t get a discount from your Avery supplier. After all, if for example you buy 100 grands worth of materials in a year and you negotiate say a 5% discount, that an extra 5 grand in your pocket each year. I do it all the time and maybe every six months have another go at my suppliers just to keep them on their toes