Which included software is better with the Graphtec or Roland?

[GingerMarie]

I don't exactly know which cutter I'll be getting yet. I'm pretty sure it will be either a Graphtec or Roland.

Between those 2 which has the better/easiest/most features software included?
Graphtec Studio?
or Cut Studio?

Things important to me are:
1) Tracking as I will be doing long boat names and want them to be straight
2) Registration, in case I have something printed that I want to cut
3) And, very important - needs to be able to import Illustrator EPS, PDFs and jpegs and tiffs in case I want to trace in the native program.
4) Also ease of use would be nice, hate when it takes 15 steps to do something that could be done in 5

Once I decide on cutter I am going to buy refurbished PC laptop to run cutting software and will use my Mac to design. Don't want to use Mac for cutter.

So hopefully that's enough info to help me decide which to get.

I await any and all ideas

Thanks a bunch!

 

[WildWestDesigns]

I have several Rolands, so I can't comment on Graphtec.

CutStudio is a very basic program. If you have Ai, DRAW and/or Inkscape, it would be far better to "print"(technically it's cutting, but you use a "print driver") directly to the Roland rather then go through CutStudio. However, Win 8 seems to have changed something and cutting directly from regular graphic programs seems to be more problematic compared to Win 7. At least with our Win 8 VMs.

Now, if you are doing complicated designs versus just text, the bad thing about cutting/"printing" directly from the programs is that it focuses on first created, rather then most efficient cut sequence. So you may need to change sequences within the layers, if you are doing complicated and/or multilayer designs.

Tracking and registration will depend on how long it is. We have several GX-24s (the much hated by some on here, but I actually really like ours and they have served us well for several years and still continue to do so, but our main use is applique shapes) and depending on how long it is, tracking can get wonky if you don't plan it right.

 

[rjssigns]

If you're concerned with tracking get a Summa. From time to time they have refurbs if cost is an issue. Phil from Summa will post here when he has them or special offers.

When cut vinyl was king we'd more often than not load a 50 yard roll then go to dinner. Put on the roll holders, place in the guides and hit the go button. Never had to worry about it skewing.