What software are you using for Sigange Designing?

[Jenefer_h]

Hey, I am working as a digital signage designer, I wanted to know which all software you guys are currently using for designing signage. I will be more than happy to listen to all your answers. and please mention the software version as well.

 

[DChorbowski]

We use Coreldraw for 95% of all client facing design, Flexisign for machine output and rip. Both are the latest and greatest version. Always upgraded to the latest as they are subscription based.

 

[DarkerKat]

Illustrator for 95% of layout + Flexidesign for braille & automated sign content. We use Photoshop and Indesign as well depending on the project but most of our work is very custom so we need the freedom & vector graphics that Illustrator provides.

 

[Johnny Best]

Affinity Designer 2, Affinity Photo 2

 

[unclebun]

We use Corel Draw! for the majority of design work, Sign Wizard Pro for vinyl cutting, and Adobe Illustrator to convert files that Adobe users send us which contain proprietary effects that need to be flattened. All are the latest version because Corel and Adobe are subscription now and Sign Wizard stopped at 7.

 

[chester215]

Flexi for everything.

 

[productionMike]

Adobe Creative Suite for all design and pre press
PDF work flow
ONYX - 24 for production printing EPSON / AGFA / HP large and grand format
ONYX 24 Cut Server for all BARCODE continuous Decal / Vinyl Cutting
Cut Master 5 - Graphtec proprietary software ( But not that Much )
Blender for 3d visualization modelling and renders
KONGSBERG - Proprietary OS for Cutting / Scoring / Crease folds

 

[Gene@mpls]

Flexi since 1997

 

[myront]

CorelDRAW X7 is our go to with a ton of macros. Used for plotting too.
Corel Photopaint as it's easier to intergrade with draw.
Also have Photoshop CS4 to flatten pdf's that neither Corel nor Illustrator can handle and no changes need to be made.
Flexi for RIP only.
Latest to version of Illustrator to convert files that Corel wants to scramble.
Acrobat Pro 9 to handle files illy or Corel can't but need to retain vectors.

 

[Bobby H]

I jump between CorelDRAW and Adobe Illustrator, depending the nature of the sign project and client art involved. Some work gets done using Photoshop. Astute Graphics' plugins are a great add-on for Illustrator.

I have a copy of Affinity Designer 2 but only use it on rare occasions. I mainly have it just in case I get any art files in that format.

 

[Boudica]

Adobe Creative Cloud apps

 

[somcalmetim]

Last Corel version fixed all little stability/speed problems I had with last couple ver, very happy at moment, we have used it for 99% of design with full custom hotkey setup since x7...
have Adobe subscription to open Illustrator files and use photoshops new Generative Edit features...select something and tell it to "remove text" is a big one...
then a bunch of machine specific output programs like versaworks, lightburn. etc...

Best CorelDraw keyboard shortcut not bound to keyboard by default are "In Front of ..." and "Behind..." for ordering your layers and adding keys for "Intersect Target...", "Trim Target..." and "Weld" will kick the shit out of Illustrators "pathfinder" function for speed and usability chopping vectors/groups all day...

 

[Mike Paul]

Flexi and Photoshop

 

[CanuckSigns]

Use whatever program you are most comfortable in, adobe illustrator is the design industry standard, but lots of sign shops use coreldraw or flexi or signlab.

 

[caribmike]

I have only ever used Adobe software.

 

[bob]

...adobe illustrator is the design industry standard...

No it's not. There isn't any 'standard'. If you went to school to try to learn how these sorts of things are done then Adobe is the only thing they use because Adobe gives it to them. Students get to thinking that there isn't anything but Adobe.

 

[d fleming]

Signlab since the get. I have corel and all adobe but SL carries 99% of my workload.

 

[CanuckSigns]

No it's not. There isn't any 'standard'. If you went to school to try to learn how these sorts of things are done then Adobe is the only thing they use because Adobe gives it to them. Students get to thinking that there isn't anything but Adobe.

There absolutely is a "standard" the discussion of how ethically it came to be is another discussion, but if you go to any graphic design firm, it will be almost 100% adobe products, when you get files from these companies it will be almost always designed in adobe products. if you are starting fresh and looking to learn a design program, you may as well learn the one that most designers use, if for no other reason than compatability of files.

This is coming from someone who uses Corel exclusively, if I was starting out fresh I would learn Adobe, but instead I'm making it work with Corel because it's what i know.

 

[ProSignTN]

Sometimes I use 96 bright 20 lbs paper and a stubby little no. 2 pencil.

 

[InkMonkey]

Photoshop, Illustrator and FONZAI https://www.ink-monkey.com/fonzai for a lot of design work.