Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 50

"It might seem that
automating the design
process is impossible...
In reality, the process
is already underway."
- Adrian Shaughnessey

RIP province. Besides, smart sign
designers will welcome design automation because it will save them time,
boredom and the awful grind of designing unspectacular sign faces, fish-fry
banners, real estate signs and those
wearisome swimming pool rule signs.
Not all design work is invigorating.
With work-saving philosophies in
mind, Roland DGA Corp. recently
presented its InClix Creative Media
Maker, a cloud/web-based tool for
signmakers that integrates design
and workflow management while
"simplifying design work for print
or electronic digital displays." In addition, Roland says its user-friendly
InClix provides instant access to highresolution photos, graphics and readyto-use videos via in-browser design
tools. Essentially, the cloud-based
system offers design templates, an
intuitive interface, workflow management, PDF generation, and of course,
it easily coalesces with Roland VersaWorks® software and VersaWorks
Dual RIP.
Similarly, SA Intl. (SAi) has launched
its online SIGN.com 2.0 that's intended
to provide "a quick and simple process
50

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

DECEMBER 2017

to create custom signs or banners...
regardless of their complexity." In
addition, SAi offers its well-established
Flexi and Flexi Design signmaking
software packages that allow signmakers to create more complex
designs and structures.
Check out AutoCAD Lite if you're
drawing electric sign structures.
CONCEALED AUTOMATION
Automation is often hidden in such
RIP and design software as Mimaki's
Profile Master 3 (MPM3) color-management system, which allows you
to create and edit ICC color profiles,
advanced color profiles, edit color
profiles (based on the ink set, printer
and substrate) and evaluate and edit
linearization curves. The company's
RasterLink RIP software includes an
ID cut function that places a barcode
on the print which is read and then
automated by the cut sensor on
Mimaki's UCJV printer/cutter or its
CF22-125 flatbed cutting plotter.
The ONYX 12.2 RIP offers integrated
G7 processing and will identify jobs
and navigate through a color-managed
visual RIP-Queue with thumbnail

previews. It also provides integrated
G7 processing, displays edits on the
fly and allows simultaneous viewing
of printer information, nesting
previews and job details.
EFI has received the G7 System
Certification for its Fiery Color Profiler Suite v4.9 which, in the sphere
of automation, provides integrated
color management functionality and
quality control elements that extend
the color capabilities of Fiery Driven™
printers with color management tools
for profile creation, inspection, editing
and color-quality assurance. Additional automated functions ensure
color accuracy and consistency
across design and office applications
for all types of media.
Aries Sign Wizard 7 lists 29 new and
improved capabilities that include a
paragraph text tool, effects library,
brush tool ( for photo touch up),
background eraser, clone stamp,
image fills, easy bevel, dynamic outline,
dynamic shadow and dynamic contour
cut paths, map to circle, map to path,
weed line eraser, gradient blend
presets, arrow tool enhancements,
rounded rectangle enhancements, a

http://www.SIGN.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - December 2017