vikingmedia
New Member
I have been running my sign shop with 2 laptop computers ever since I started using Adobe CS3 a while back (Windows Vista on this laptop) along with SignLab Print & Cut 7 (Windows XP2000 B.C. on the laptop connected to my printer). I would like to purchase one single laptop that can house both pieces of software (with the added benefit of bringing only one laptop home to design so I do not have to be at the shop at all hours of the night, but I digress) and here is my snag. My current SignLab will not run in newer versions of Windows (7 most likely will be what I go with) so it seems an upgrade is in my future. The Adobe software, through a quick Google search, will work fine, but I am leery of upgrading to SignLab Print & Cut 9.1 (or the 8 if I really get tight on the wallet).
Oh, and by the way, I am printing and cutting on a Roland SP-300 that my old man bought back in 2005-ish before I graduated college and bought the shop. I am hoping someday to upgrade to a 54" version, just as soon as I save enough money to make it happen.
Here is why I am questioning the SignLab upgrade and researching Corel Draw:
1) Does SignLab truly have the extra capabilities that a new Corel Draw (no experience with this) would lack?
More specifically, cutting vinyl, contour cutting printed decals, vectorising, line and node editing vector objects, outlining text and vector objects, and on and on. I imagine these will be small processes to learn either way depending on the route I choose, but level of difficulty of adopting the new Corel Draw v. paying a good chunk of change for a USB clip that validates the new SignLab will factor in my decision. And really, the USB clip? Am I reading all these posts right in saying I'm on my own if the clip gets lost or stolen? Seems like a shady business practice to me, but hey, I'm only 28 and certainly don't know everything and have been lucky not to lose the one I have. I mean, do we pay thousands of dollars for a set of car keys? Phew, life is good and I'm back on topic now (a 28 year old attention span at work).
2) If I do decide to pass on SignLab and pick up Corel Draw, how different will my printing and cutting experience be?
This may be a simpler question to answer than I am making it to be, given my lack of experience in Corel Draw, as well as any RIP software that I imagine will be needed. With my SP-300 I have been able to get by with all my output needs using SignLab Print & Cut Manager and have recently learned to print, laminate, and re-load to cut which I can thank Terry from Far From Normal for that! As a side note, I made my own version of the Big Squeegee out of an extra post wrap and PVC pipe one afternoon when I was bored, so I no longer have to send my prints to another sign company to laminate. I have never attempted to output anything from Illustrator by the way, something I'm sure an appropriate RIP would help with if I needed to go that route. Obviously, there will be a learning curve either way and I am prepared to read posts, watch countless tutorials and YouTube videos for either software I choose.
I honestly have question after question, which I will research on my own as I see my post has gotten longer than I wanted and thank everyone who spent the time to still be reading at this point. As you can tell, an upgrade on all fronts is overdue, but want to make sure I cover my bases before I throw a bunch of money at it.
Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks!
Oh, and by the way, I am printing and cutting on a Roland SP-300 that my old man bought back in 2005-ish before I graduated college and bought the shop. I am hoping someday to upgrade to a 54" version, just as soon as I save enough money to make it happen.
Here is why I am questioning the SignLab upgrade and researching Corel Draw:
1) Does SignLab truly have the extra capabilities that a new Corel Draw (no experience with this) would lack?
More specifically, cutting vinyl, contour cutting printed decals, vectorising, line and node editing vector objects, outlining text and vector objects, and on and on. I imagine these will be small processes to learn either way depending on the route I choose, but level of difficulty of adopting the new Corel Draw v. paying a good chunk of change for a USB clip that validates the new SignLab will factor in my decision. And really, the USB clip? Am I reading all these posts right in saying I'm on my own if the clip gets lost or stolen? Seems like a shady business practice to me, but hey, I'm only 28 and certainly don't know everything and have been lucky not to lose the one I have. I mean, do we pay thousands of dollars for a set of car keys? Phew, life is good and I'm back on topic now (a 28 year old attention span at work).
2) If I do decide to pass on SignLab and pick up Corel Draw, how different will my printing and cutting experience be?
This may be a simpler question to answer than I am making it to be, given my lack of experience in Corel Draw, as well as any RIP software that I imagine will be needed. With my SP-300 I have been able to get by with all my output needs using SignLab Print & Cut Manager and have recently learned to print, laminate, and re-load to cut which I can thank Terry from Far From Normal for that! As a side note, I made my own version of the Big Squeegee out of an extra post wrap and PVC pipe one afternoon when I was bored, so I no longer have to send my prints to another sign company to laminate. I have never attempted to output anything from Illustrator by the way, something I'm sure an appropriate RIP would help with if I needed to go that route. Obviously, there will be a learning curve either way and I am prepared to read posts, watch countless tutorials and YouTube videos for either software I choose.
I honestly have question after question, which I will research on my own as I see my post has gotten longer than I wanted and thank everyone who spent the time to still be reading at this point. As you can tell, an upgrade on all fronts is overdue, but want to make sure I cover my bases before I throw a bunch of money at it.
Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks!
