LXi vinyl cutting software 12 works w/ Windows 8.1 and 10. What software features do you need? How do you decide which level to buy to keep from limiting the growth of your sign shop? Discussion Vinyl Express R-Series vinyl Cutter. The R-series and a US Cutters laser point II. Actual link to the R Series (use the Redsail drivers). In this article, A basic guide to Vinyl Express® LXi 12 vinyl cutting software, we give you answers. When you buy a sign equipment package, you’ll probably spend most of your time looking at the hardware features and specifications to make sure you get the right or for the job. The more capable your equipment, the more productive your sign business is. What about software? Many aspiring sign makers spend lots of time selecting the right cutter, then buy the least expensive software available. Only after they’ve setup the equipment do they realize that they don’t have the design tools they need to meet the demands of their waiting customers. How can you avoid this common pitfall? Why Vinyl Express® LXi Vinyl Cutting Software? FIG 1: LXI includes tools for optimizing the performance of your vinyl cutter The first question we should answer is the most obvious; Lots of people use other applications for vector graphics like CorelDRAW or Adobe Illustrator. Some prefer photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop, Corel Photo-Paint or even PaintShop Pro. Why not just use one of those? Using Photoshop for vinyl graphics is like trying to change a flat tire with a hammer & chisel. They’re not the right tools for the job. You might get the tire changed, but not without serious aggravation and possible injury. These software applications are not designed for making vinyl signs, so a lot of their output can’t be used by vinyl cutters. More importantly, they don’t have plotter drivers so they can’t communicate directly to your device in its native language. You could use a generic printer driver, but then you’ll still lack the unique features included in LXi that have been developed over 35 years of sign making to make your life easier. These features include enhanced weeding tools, automatic tiling, and the cutting speed and force controls that are essential for driving some entry-level cutters (Fig 1). We understand the resistance to buying and learning graphic design software if you’re already proficient in another application. Since LXi is cloud-based software, you also have a ‘Cloud pane’ that enables archiving your files online and provides instant access to SAI’s extensive library of clip art images, logos, and templates. You need not be online all the time to use it. You need an internet connection for installation and occasional server contact to keep up the license. Few people want to expend the time and effort to learn new software. But it’s time well spent and the effort will pay off in increased efficiency and productivity. Speaking of learning, we’ve made it easier by posting some LXI Training Video Tutorials on our support site. To shorten the learning curve. So what does LXi software offer and why is it worth your hard-earned shekels? Vinyl Express® LXi vinyl cutting software overview – Five levels – with OS updates The most important question for Windows users relates to compatibility with Windows 10 OS. The current version of LXi software, LXI 12, is fully compatible with Windows 7, 8, and 10. Windows XP is no longer supported. Unfortunately, LXI 12 is a Window’s only application. MAC users can still make professional quality signs, but with a more limited range of compatible hardware. Please for more information about our MAC sign making solutions. There are now five levels offering different tools and features. In order from basic to best, these are Apprentice, Expert, Master, Master Plus, and LXI RIP. Time and space fails to allow a full exploration of all the features in all the levels of LXi. Instead, we’ll look at the most important features by level so you can see what gets added to your digital toolbox as you move up the LXi ladder. Vinyl Express® LXi Apprentice 12 LXi Apprentice 12 is an entry-level solution and is offered for those who are already proficient in another graphic design software product like CorelDRAW or Adobe Illustrator, and wish to continue designing in that space. You can even use the Workspace Profiles option to change the Graphic User Interface to look like your favorite graphic design software. The tool set is fairly simple and supports unadorned text and shapes.
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September 2018
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