Question Alternative to Flexi for Windows

You can try Signlab. I think they have a cut versions for around $500. Their icons are really sophomoric.
https://www.hhsignsupply.com/productcart/pc/SignLab-10-c613.htm

 

What kind of PC are you running Flexi on? Just because it's a 64-bit machine doesn't make it necessarily fast.

 

Keep in mind when running 32 bit applications on a 64 bit machine, min specs actually double. So consider that as well and sometimes programs see GPU RAM as well and include that in it's system assessment.

Not actually knowing what "decent" vector is, it's hard to tell and adding to that with what your system's resources are as well.

 

Vector? Do you mean raster? Flexi is all vector unless you import a raster image. And to me Flexi is the best at editing/creating/handling vectors. I think you are confused.

 

you gotta be careful when people send you "their" files even though they are so called "vectors" as they put it..... I've run Flexi for years, i mean going back to Pre CasMate days and once in awhile i get a file that just blows my mind on how it was pieced together by a "designer".... LOL... It will lock up flexi for a min or 2 even just moving it on the screen.... Really?? Has nothing to do with Flexi, its the POS file they created and sent you... This goes along with the RTP files that designers send us... Ill open up say a 24" x 36" file, all image mind you, and its like a 1.5 GB file !!!!! Really???? WTF ??

 

AI has always been a problem child when importing files into sl or flexi. Pen outlines instead of actual outlines mean squat to a plotter and most "designers" that use strictly the adobe products they were taught on in school have no clue about plotting vinyl. Try a free trial version of 64 bit SL and see if that helps.

 

Also keep in mind, with a 32 bit application, it does not matter how much ram you put in a computer, a 32 bit application cannot address more than 4GB of memory. Windows can and can even swap other stuff up to higher memory addresses to free up more for the 32 bit app that is running.

One thing I have found that can help with really complex vectors in Flexi, if I am just moving some things around to group them for print, is to turn off show fills so it does not have to render/rerender all of the complex shadows, transparency, etc. Cannot see what it what since it is all just outlines but things move very quick then. I've determined the issue to more specifically be with transparency effects and how Flexi tries to render them while moving things around on screen. Can also the "design editor" window and simply turn those particular layers visibility off while moving things but you have to make sure to turn them back on.

Another bug I've found is with Illustrator files with multiple artboards. We often use artboards to chop things up for certain jobs. When opening in Flexi do NOT tell it to open all artboards at once. It will do it but random parts will be missing shadows or other effects with transparency. Open the first artboard, then import the same file again and import the next artboard, repeat, repeat, etc which can be tedious if the file has dozens of artboards.

 

You won't find anything better than Flexi for vectors.

 

what version of flexi are you using?

 

Adobe Illustrator?

 

So isn't that alternative to Flexi..?

 

I have zero issues with vector, bitmap, fills etc in signlab. Just saying. I have worked with flexi and between the two, for me at least, there is no comparison to ease of use.