Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 51

PHOTOS BY DALLAS GRIFFIN, DAVINCI SIGNS, WINDSOR, CO

GRIFFIN AND SKETCHUP
DaVinci Sign Systems (Windsor, CO) designer Dallas Griffin traditionally
designs in CorelDRAW, but enhances the customer demonstration process
by animating his designs with SketchUp software. SketchUp, a 3D modeling
program, is in universal use among architects, interior designers, engineers
and, of course, sign designers. Its marketing spin says the program creates near
photo-realistic renderings, includes layout-drawing functionality, allows surface
textures and supports third-party plug-ins.
Griffin says that sign salespersons often email renderings to their clients, but
have no control over the devices the customers use for viewing. Smartphones,
Griffin said, are "horrible for viewing designs," so he often includes a SketchUp
portrayal which, even on a phone, allows an impressive "walkaround" video of
the proposed sign. "In SketchUp, I can control the animation, which means I
can control how the client sees the design," Griffin said. Of course, the salesperson can also present the SketchUp video on a tablet or laptop, and DaVinci also
generates large-screen client presentations in its conference room.
Griffin's work has won several awards. When asked for design advice, he
said sign designers should study other signs, fonts and architecture, the latter
providing ideas for styling, shapes and forms.

high-color toolbox and more.
CADLink's 64-bit SignLab Version
10 features Windows® 10 support,
automated online software updater,
ClipArt Manager, a customizable work
space area, Unicode language standardization, CorelDRAW™ X8 and X7 direct
workflow support, industry standard
alignment shortcuts, FlexiSign™ import
filter, Direct X enhanced drawing,
accelerated bitmap redraws, GIMP
2.8 raster image editing software and
advanced software controls - all, once

triggered, are automated actions.
Caldera's V11 RIP incorporates the
latest version of Adobe PDF Print
Engine (APPE 4), as well as practical
advances in image and business
control options. It's compliant with
the Adobe CC/DC suite, macOS High
Sierra and has the ability to run the
same RIP settings across different
printers, locations and environments
and Caldera's Tile Parallel Processing
technology that accelerates system
performance by dividing the large

file components - "tiles," each of
which runs on a separate CPU core.
Therefore, although AI may excel in
other areas, the featured design component of AI for signmakers leans more
towards automated design, RIP and
pre-press processes that, thankfully,
assist designers and signshops in all
design areas while automating - and
speeding - the tedious and boring sign
work that causes designers to leave
their workstations, wander around the
shop and distract other workers.
SIGNSOFTHETIMES.COM

51


http://www.SIGNSOFTHETIMES.COM

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

Signs of the Times - December 2017
Contents
From the Editor
St Update
At Large
Tech Review
Vehicles + Vinyl
Design Matters
Nuts + Bolts
An Overarching Theme
The Value of Signs
Going With the Flow
Design Software
New Products
Advertising Index
Last Look
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - Intro
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - BB1
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - BB2
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - Signs of the Times - December 2017
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - BD_L
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - BD
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - Cover2
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 1
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 2
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 3
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - Contents
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 5
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 6
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 7
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 8
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 9
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - From the Editor
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 11
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - St Update
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 13
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 14
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 15
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 16
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 17
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 18
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 19
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - At Large
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 21
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 22
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 23
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - Tech Review
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 25
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - Vehicles + Vinyl
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 27
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 28
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 29
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - Design Matters
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 31
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - Nuts + Bolts
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 33
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 34
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 35
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 36
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 37
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - An Overarching Theme
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 39
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 40
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 41
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - The Value of Signs
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 43
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 44
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 45
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - Going With the Flow
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 47
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - Design Software
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 49
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 50
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 51
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - New Products
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 53
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 54
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 55
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 56
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 57
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 58
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 59
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 60
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 61
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 62
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 63
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 64
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 65
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 66
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 67
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 68
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 69
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 70
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 71
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 72
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 73
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 74
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 75
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 76
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 77
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - 78
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - Advertising Index
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - Last Look
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - Cover3
Signs of the Times - December 2017 - Cover4
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