gt350ed,

Vistool is close to what is provided for the GEM engraver (same program but a higher version than mine). Quick workable program for non-complicated engraving. I'd love to have the extra fonts it comes with to place in my GEM software but don't want to pay the extra $345 for them right now.

The vinyl software is basically the same layout, haven't used it but not much to it. If theres something your needing to know let me know and I'll look to see if it's explained in my GEM manual.

Puck

What program do you run it with now?

I use a couple older Rolands, camm-1 & cm-24 but use corel with pro-cut and signmate express.

Puck

OK.

What windows system are you using and I'll see if I can help out.

Puck

I just hooked up my cm-24 roland and cut a simple word layout off of it from vistool with out any problem. So let me know what your needing and I can probably walk you through the hook up maybe.

Puck

gt350ed,

I will try and write down step by step for you to hook it up and give it a test run to make sure it will work with vistool. I'll PM them to you since probably nobody else needs instructions to do this if that OK with you?

Puck

Ed,

Can you run it out of CorelDRAW since you have the proper driver???? I use CorelDRAW for my Roland Printer/Cutter and have few problems on the cutout, when there is an issue, Weld/Trim/Intersect work fine. That way you can take your time looking for a true cutter software package while doing the more simple banners/signs and learning the basics.

btw, I was looking at a map the other day and finally found Victorville. You are just to the left of my sister..... how far and what is the driving time to Yucca Valley????

Hi Ed,

I just figured if you had it...that you would already be set to go, and might not be aware of the options that you had.

I use the plugin that they offer for Illustrator. We print on our Roland printer, laminate, and then cut on a 54" Graphtec FC7000. It works like a dream....

We can also use it for cutting vinyl without the registration.

Ed,

You are on the right track. You have Corel already installed, now install your driver for the cutter. Design your layout in Corel, keep it simple just do a couple of words right now, then print it to your cutter.

In complex designs where you have vector lines crossing over each other, you will need to eliminate that. When in "wireframe" mode you can see when lines will cut on top of each other. This is where Weld/Trim/Intersect/Simplify will come in handy.

Do some simple text only type banners at the start so that will give you the basic feel for what you are wanting to accomplish. Once you get the feel of it, that will give you time to determine which software package you will want to purchase to do more advanced designs. Some packages were mentioned in other posts, I don't have any suggestions there.

Smart Designer has an add-on for CorelDRAW to automatically convert vector images to be vinyl ready.

hth,

gt350ed,

Sent you a PM on the setup last night, had trouble with the sending and getting on the forum last night so hope it went through.

Also sent the link for a coreldraw add on which works great for the $200
price tag. If your needing more info on how to set it up and use it with just plain old corel theres a good discussion on sign101.com on how to do it. Little to complex for me, I like the easy. (you set it up the same way I PM'd you with for the vistools, I.E. printer driver. That part I can do, it's the layout thats a learning curve.)

I tried hooking up both of my cutters with the serial cord this morning and can not get the program to run them, not sure if they are to old or the software download is missing the final cut manager since it seems to hang up on the stop and go buttons.

Puck

OK, sent another one to you just now. Check your PM Inbox.

Puck