Myths, Magic Bullets and Easy Buttons

[Velocity]

I had the best mullet in high school. LOL

 

[Bogie]

What I learned early on was that one needs to learn the capabilities, and limitations, of one's equipment, and then work within that.

In addition, with learning about how "signs" works, as opposed to just printing on various papers, I'm learning about a WIDE variety of substrates.

This is what we get paid for.

 

[OldPaint]

I had the best mullet in high school. LOL

I STILL HAVE MINE)))))))))))))))))))))))

 

[Velocity]

I dont know if im impressed or jealous. Grin.

 

[activitydude]

I like your attitudes! That's one of the "fun" parts of selling software. There are dozens of BMS software suppliers but not one that does it all for you or is "perfect" for your situation. That's why we compete.

 

[Wowee18]

I thought it was impossible to "prove" that something DOES NOT exist... you know, like the yetti, nessie, etc...

 

[bob]

I thought it was impossible to "prove" that something DOES NOT exist... you know, like the yetti, nessie, etc...

A popular belief usually but not necessarily true. There are many examples of proving a negative. They often tend to esoterica but they are valid nonetheless, and thus show that it's not an impossibility.

It has to do with the inherent deductive nature of proof as opposed to the infinitely more useful induction and the theory of confirmation and explanation.

 

[Digital_Dan]

This thread is very deep (in detail) and very knowledgeable. Fred you are spot on! Also, everything that "bob" posted is pinpoint perfected. Nice work fellas.

OldPaint - that hair works for you, but I know I couldn't pull it off

 

[Gino]

What a trip down memory lane with all the old members.

 

[garyroy]

The only one still standing seems to be Gino.

 

[Gino]

bob and fred are still here.

 

[jasonclark]

We get a lot of questions and posts here looking for answers and solutions that are neat, tried and true, cure-alls for whatever ails ya.

This post is to address the myth that such things exist.

The software, hardware, materials, machines, techniques, tools and what-not asked about and discussed here are resources ... Tools of the trade. There is no "best" anything.

There is no

• best printer
• best plotter
• best sign program
• best vinyl
• best way to apply vinyl
• best way to autotrace

There are lots of better and worse solutions to the various needs we face in designing and producing commercial projects in an efficient and professional manner. Learning the differences and the possibilities is what is important and takes the most effort and the most time.

Each project we are presented with is unique in some way. The solutions to completing the project are as varied as our talent and understanding of our available resources and which is a more appropriate choice to use at any given time.

There is no "easy button" or simple solution, neither is there a best anything except as to how well any solution satisfies a need FOR YOU as an individual. Signmaking, design and professional graphic arts is first and foremost a craft and an art. It is learned over time.

We are presented with continuously changing and evolving technology on a daily basis. The tendency exists to think the technology is the solution. But technology is just another resource. The individual who utilizes the various resources is the solution. That will never change.

 

[jasonclark]

We get a lot of questions and posts here looking for answers and solutions that are neat, tried and true, cure-alls for whatever ails ya.

This post is to address the myth that such things exist.

 

[netsol]

as far as autotrace goes, if you remember that horrid product Adobe sold in the early 1990's (when photoshop still came on a stack of 1.44 floppies) as a free standing tracing program, EVERY PROGRAM THEY SELL now to trace is damn near perfect

you are absolutely right, however

 

[DL Signs]

I don't have degrees hanging on the wall, I grew up in a body shop before digital graphics was a big thing. I learned to paint, hand letter, how to use pounce paper to letter corporate vehicles when I was a kid. My how the industry has changed in the last 60 years. I've been in the digital end of the graphic & design fields for over 25 years, from corporate stuff, to store and trade show displays, signs, vehicles, and still not any sort of "expert" in any way, on anything... I'm still learning. We make the equipment and software work for our needs, whatever brand, whatever technique is required, if anything is possible, we find a way, and learn from our mistakes.

Coming back into this after retiring six years ago, (last posts from my old account were in 2016) I didn't know if I still had wat it takes. I stepped into a part time, "help out in the graphics dept." gig, now I'm somehow the graphics department for a 50 year old sign company, and told I'm the best they ever had. I still think I'm a hack, all I really have is experience, and that's what matters. I've used most brands/ types of printers, plotters, laminators, materials... I've used pretty much every design software, a variety of RIP software, and while some do better at some things than others, no single one will fix a lack of experience. It just takes time and dedication. I still love this industry, every job is a new adventure, a new challenge, it never gets old. On thing I've learned is there is no one size fits all for anything in this industry.

One of the things I've never relied on is auto trace. It has it's place in some scenarios, but I look at it as a crutch in some ways. If you can't re-create something in vector, how can you create something that doesn't already exist for a client? The results can be awesome, but if you've ever had to edit an auto traced image to make it work, it's probably just as easy to draw it. Maybe I'm just too "old school", but I've drawn since I was old enough to hold a crayon, and adapted it to the vector world.

 

[CanuckSigns]

Reading through this old post and seeing some of the members who are no longer with us is a bit sad