jaceys Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 Thank You Craig much appreciated..... looking forward to using the new engraver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forest Cobbler Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 Hi StephenB Very impressed. Is it Photoshop Elements 11 or 12 that you are using? I have so far failed to persuade The Boss to buy Coreldraw because it's so expensive, but Elements looks much more achieveable. Would be grateful for any advice. Many thanks, Valerie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted March 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 Valerie, I'm actually running quite an old version, PS Elements 8 on this machine & it is more than capable of doing the basic adjustments that are required. Elements is cracking good value for money too, whichever version you buy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forest Cobbler Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 Interesting. I've had a look at the various comments and feedback on their website, but they mostly seem to be talking about photo editing (as you might expect), and I've not found much yet about general artwork. I'll do some more research before I try to sell the idea to The Boss. Can I call on you for some troubleshooting should I need it? Thanks, Valerie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted March 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 Of course, I will always help where I can. I've been using PSE for photo editing myself now for 8 years or more, through many generations of the software, so am quite familiar with how it works & what you need to do. As you will have seen from the post I put on above, there's generally nothing too complicated needed for preparing an image ready to import into vistool. Don't be put off by all the talk in reviews being about photo editing - obviously this is what it is sold for primarily, but once the photo is on screen, it's just a picture like any other, doesn't matter what the source is. I also use PSE for creating all print ads that we need for the business, so there's definitely more to it than just photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 Steve is photoshop 8 something I can download without being Fekin Binged. I have to admit Vistool isn't that great for vectorising, I do think it's something they should address .Yes you can import photos which don't always turn out that well. Eps files I have to rely on other folks. I get by most of the time though. Good tutorial BTW...Upload it into the tutorials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted March 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 You can download a trial of the current version HERE, earlier versions are available online, any of which will do the trick absolutely fine. v6 is available on amazon for £19.99, v7 for £24.99. And yes, I can confirm I've never had a problem being 'binged' with it! With regard to the vistool software, I must say I don't have a problem with it - perhaps it's to do with the type of image that is being imported? I never import eps files directly, this is perhaps the one weakness of the software, so on the rare occasion that a customer sends me one, I open it in PSE, convert it to a JPEG or TIFF, then import that into vistool. If an image needs a bit of tweaking, node editing, smoothing out of curves etc, there is all you need built into vistool to do so relatively easily. Perhaps the subject of another tutorial if folks think it's required? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 I don't want a free trial. I want a fully working version. I'll settle for what you have, point me in the direction where I can get it, without getting binged. Or send me a copy of yours.... ..............You owe me..... East Anglian Air Ambulance.....Only joking just point me in the right direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted March 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 Or send me a copy of yours.... Of course I would, but mine is already installed on the maximum number of PCs that the license allows HERE you go, £24, finishes this afternoon Or THIS one for under a fiver (so far) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hakeemz Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 i might be wrong, but i tried it some time ago, as far as i remember photoshop free trial is useless, it doesnt let you use few key functions (they happen to be critical functions to do anything like import, export, and convert) how can i try it if you are not gonna let me try it properly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted March 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 That's a fair point, hakeemz. A trial with limited functions doesn't exactly allow you to see the breadth of what the software can do. I've never tried the trial myself, always just buying the software as required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forest Cobbler Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 Have just ordered Elements 11 . The Boy uses Photoshop Extended a lot for his college work, so he should be able to teach me how to use it. I'll let you know how I get on. Thanks, Valerie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 Have just ordered Elements 11 . The Boy uses Photoshop Extended a lot for his college work, so he should be able to teach me how to use it. I'll let you know how I get on. Thanks, Valerie Where from and how much please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 best price i could find was here http://www.nexttechdirect.com/uk/adobe- ... -v-11.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forest Cobbler Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 Amazon £39.95 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted March 26, 2014 Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 You can download a trial of the current version HERE, earlier versions are available online, any of which will do the trick absolutely fine. v6 is available on amazon for £19.99, v7 for £24.99.And yes, I can confirm I've never had a problem being 'binged' with it! With regard to the vistool software, I must say I don't have a problem with it - perhaps it's to do with the type of image that is being imported? I never import eps files directly, this is perhaps the one weakness of the software, so on the rare occasion that a customer sends me one, I open it in PSE, convert it to a JPEG or TIFF, then import that into vistool. If an image needs a bit of tweaking, node editing, smoothing out of curves etc, there is all you need built into vistool to do so relatively easily. Perhaps the subject of another tutorial if folks think it's required? Ordered v6 offof Amazon for XP and Vista...I have a little used desktop with XP so will probably put it on there, do all the jiggery pokery with images and then hopefully send them to my laptop with Windows 7....How confident do I sound?.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Gardner Posted March 26, 2014 Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 You can download a trial of the current version HERE, earlier versions are available online, any of which will do the trick absolutely fine. v6 is available on amazon for £19.99, v7 for £24.99.And yes, I can confirm I've never had a problem being 'binged' with it! With regard to the vistool software, I must say I don't have a problem with it - perhaps it's to do with the type of image that is being imported? I never import eps files directly, this is perhaps the one weakness of the software, so on the rare occasion that a customer sends me one, I open it in PSE, convert it to a JPEG or TIFF, then import that into vistool. If an image needs a bit of tweaking, node editing, smoothing out of curves etc, there is all you need built into vistool to do so relatively easily. Perhaps the subject of another tutorial if folks think it's required? Ordered v6 offof Amazon for XP and Vista...I have a little used desktop with XP so will probably put it on there, do all the jiggery pokery with images and then hopefully send them to my laptop with Windows 7....How confident do I sound?.. Or just install it on the widows 7 machine in compatibility mode Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted March 26, 2014 Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 Was thinking that Craig. I'll have a fiddle when it arrives...Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forest Cobbler Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Ours has arrived and has been installed, but I haven't had much chance to play with it yet. Out of interest, does anyone know if there is a tool on there that will smooth out pixelated edges? Thanks, Valerie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Mr.Photography...Stevenb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted March 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 I don't think there's a specific tool to smooth out edges as such Valerie. You have to remember that when you zoom in far enough, any photograph is just a lot of little coloured pixels (squares) that make up the image. Obviously you can use the eraser & drawing tools in PSE to tweak the image as much as possible, any further smoothing can then be done using the node editing tools in vistool once you've imported the image & it's drawn the outline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forest Cobbler Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Thanks Steven, just need to find some time to practice now. Wrong time of year to get new toys, really. V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaceys Posted March 30, 2014 Report Share Posted March 30, 2014 Hi Can anyone tell me if the universal follow contours or indentations when engraving eg back of hipflask like the signature machine does.? How long does it take to engrave 20 trophy plates in one go. Still havnt bought Universal yet just a few questions popping up Thanks Jane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted March 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2014 Yes, you can use the depth profile function to follow a contour, such as a hip flask or Georgian tankard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenB Posted March 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2014 Can't really answer the 20 plates question, as it will depend on the amount of engraving, choice of font etc. The machine comes with a flat bed attachment so you can set up multiple plates, having said that, I've only ever done them individually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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