Graphtec
developed i-DesignR Pro vinyl and rhinestone software to help you get started
creating professionally designed work as good looking, fast and profitable
as possible.
Yes,
the free Cutting Master 2 (plug-in software that works with CorelDRAW) software
that comes with all Graphtec cutters, works and works very nicely. However,
that does not change two other facts, which are equally true…
First, is the fact that you are still going to have to spend time in learning how to use the Cutting Master 2 program. Second, is the fact that if you want to one day do the really neat and profitable work, you will need to become a CorelDRAW expert.
I-DesignR Pro is a dedicated program that does it all for you, as you learn. Here is what Graphtec has to say about their program (my practical comments follow)…
i-DesignR® Pro is Graphtec’s exclusive graphic design software package for use with the CE and FC series of Graphtec professional cutting plotters. i-DesignR® Pro includes powerful vector editing, import filters, and automatic rhinestone pattern creation applied to your vector design — for the ultimate, custom apparel application. You can design using shape tools, clipart and single line fonts. The software includes a full Swarovski rhinestone library, rhinestone count and project cost capabilities, and multiple automatic fill patterns. i-DesignR® Pro also contains all the standard sign specific layout tools and a full suite of text, vector and raster design tools for traditional vinyl signs, contour cut (Print and Cut) decals and stickers. Designs for heat transfer material can also be created for personalized shirts, sports wear, caps and more! Download
i-DesignR® Pro Brochure and Specs 1.3MB Watch a 13 minute video about the entire i-DesignR Pro program Watch an 8 minute "how to" video about Rhinestone work, with i-DesignR Pro |
Thinking
back to my retail decades, I was pretty hardnosed. I could’ve cared
less about bells
and whistles. I wanted to know what something would do to make my life
easier and more profitable. I didn’t mind spending the bucks,
if it helped make my work the best and made me more money.
Here are some of my thoughts about i-DesignR PRO - Jack
Rhinestones – The degree of sophistication with this program in making rhinestone templates is stunning! Basically, it will take almost any graphic (a bitmap) and, with a few clicks turn it into a line drawing (a vector map). Another click and correctly spaced and sized holes appear along the lines (like the detailed Phoenix). Another click and specific areas auto-fill (like the “winged heart”).
Place a piece of stencil material in your Graphtec and the cutter very quickly cuts all of those little holes. Weed the stencil, put it on a backing board and brush rhinestones into the holes. Lift the rhinestone design with transfer tape, place on your shirt, heat and presto…rhinestone decorated shirt.
Cutting Rhinestone Templates Video
Vinyl
Decorated Shirts – There is a ton of money to 
be
made in 
producing
vinyl decorated garments and this program provides KISS tools to keep you
on a profitable path. An amazing amount of 
easy,
work consists of “putting black and white, on white and black”.
BUT…even more opportunities are possible because of the i-DesignR PRO artistic design tools. The entire “Colt’s” T-shirt was laid-out, designed and cut from the program. In addition, the program created the fashion looks, on the below shirts. “Wild Thang” is a font in the program, while the two “heart” shirts were colored pictures imported into the program, converted to a vector (line drawing) map and cut on our 24” Graphtec cutter.
Thermoflex
film – (see following pages), left to right: Pink Zebra Fashion Flex,
Blue Glitter Flex and Rainbow Deco Sparkle.
Contour
cut, Printed graphics – It may take a second to wrap your head
around the title, but the concept is easy to understand. To the left is a
Unicorn picture, printed with our TransMagic! T-shirt Inks,
on our Alpha Gold Dark heat transfer paper and pressed on
a shirt. Without trimming, the picture looks like what
you
would expect…dog ugly! The shirt on the right was printed, going through
the i-DesignR PRO program. The program turned the picture into a line drawing,
vector map (you can’t see this, but the computer can) and printed a
hash-mark in each corner. After printing, we put the printed picture on a
carrier sheet (to hold it in the cutter), and put that into the cutter. We
pushed one button, one time! The optical eye scanned the picture
(a few seconds) and then cut the entire picture out (14 seconds). This produces
a more upscale look and shirt and you should charge more. The big advantage
to custom printed graphics is that you can print exact colors for your customer!
All
of these prints have been cut out and the only thing you can see and feel
is the actual printed graphics.
Sophisticated
Sign Making Abilities – Personally, I would probably look at
this benefit as a cherry on top of the whipped cream and sundae…not
the main thing, but a nice treat. 
Everything
you need to run a sign business, is in the i-DesignR PRO program. While
most of you may never actually go into sign business it is nice to know that
you can generate another revenue stream, with just a couple of rolls of sign
vinyl.
About The i-DesignR PRO program…and your business and profits.
You
want to remember that the above is only the “big picture” overview
of the program. I kept to the big stuff to keep the page from being too long
(and maybe boring), but there are dozens of more features and benefits.
Here are a few more: Spell checker (handy for Hillbilly’s like me), e-mail job proofs to your customer, straight from the program, rhinestone counter (that lets you know exact rhinestone costs), auto-arc text for pleasing spacing, and much more.
The
price of the program is not chump change but, in my professional experience,
it is not exorbitantly priced either. Were I to go back into retail, I would
buy it in a heartbeat! I have a reason for that…
From experience, I know that if I can buy something that helps me become an expert, quickly and easily, I will be able to generate sales and profits much, much quicker. That’s good!
The very last mind-blowing fact about i-DesignR PRO
As you were reading our words and looking at our pretty examples, you may have thought, I know those Alpha pros can do neat things, but could I learn? Well…experienced pros didn’t do the work. That was for a reason-
I
wanted to test the ability of the program to teach beginners, like our customers.
To do that, I asked two of our associates to spend some time watching and
learning from the instructional DVD (neither had ever seen a vinyl cutter
software program).
Over two days they watched and learned as much as they could (we are a small company so they had to fit it in, between their regular work). I then asked them to continue learning and to start making some “stuff”. Most of the “stuff” on this page is their work.
Yes, I was very proud of what they did (one is very new and had never even touched a vinyl cutter) but, because neither is a pro, I knew that we had a winner, that would help anyone.
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Graphtec i-DesignR CE dedicated software program - $295
i-DesignR™
CE is Graphtec’s first entry into
a dedicated design and software program, for their vinyl cutters. As such,
it is a much less powerful program, than the new PRO
version of i-DesignR
The boxed program includes the software CD and a separate Training DVD. It
also includes a USB Flash Dongle that goes into your USB port before using
or installing the program (this is the “Open Sesame” key that
lets everything work).
There is
a FREE Training DVD that teaches you how to use all of the functions in the
program, step by step, and all of the functions are specifically designed
for use with the Graphtec cutters; see it, do it!
There are many things this program just won’t do (as compared to the
PRO version). I personally wouldn’t
buy this program, except for one reason…
If my budget was real tight, I might consider getting this version (to start my learning), while I saved my nickels and quarters, to also buy the upgrade (to the PRO version), listed below. Graphtec did do right by their existing customers.
The combined price of the CE version and upgrade is no higher than the original price of the PRO, so that is why you could “split” program and not pay more.
There is, however, one caveat! The PRO version is much more friendly and easier to learn than this CE version. In developing the very polished PRO version of their software, they knew that they would be competing against two other vinyl software companies. Because of that, they knew that the PRO version had to be very user friendly and well-worth the money.
Graphtec succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. Not only is their program half the cost of the competition, it is so easy to learn and use, that sales have been booming. The competition is not happy!
Here are just a few pictures of the really
neat things i-DesignR CE™
does for you…
Click Here for a full spec sheet
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Lite
i-DesignR®
Lite software allows the creation of original designs using various shape
and drawing tools. It can also import clipart and bitmap files to aid the
creative process. i-DesignR® Lite is perfect for vinyl signs, print and
cut stickers and decals from desktop printers, scrapbooking, card applications
and various apparel decoration applications.
i-DesignR® Lite can even create patterns for rhinestone designs. The software automatically applies the selected rhinestone, both size and color, to your vector design. This speeds the design process and concept approval for production. When used with rhinestone stencil material, your creations become a permanent design library for future use.
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i-DesignR Pro Upgrade
This
is a downloaded upgrade to turn the CE version
(see above) of i-DesignR CE into the Pro
version. If your budget is tight, you could get the simpler, cheaper CE
version of i-DesignR now, and then upgrade later. You would still be spending
no more total money.
Call Us: $295
i-DesignR Rhinestone Fonts Volume 1 and 2*
Easily create custom rhinestone designs with rhinestone ready fonts
The Graphtec Rhinestone Fonts software is available in two separate volumes for use with your i-DesignR software (Lite, CE and PRO)
Fifteen Fonts are included in each font volume
Conversion charts are included indicating the correct point size for each font to produce specific sized rhinestone text
Text created with each font can be edited including kerning and line spacing and are compatible with other i-DesignR text features
The fonts can be broken apart so individual stones in each character can be edited
Graphtec font conversion charts provide size values for seven different font sizes using stone sizes from 6ss to 30ss
Swarovski font conversion charts provide size values for eleven different font sizes using stone sizes 5ss to 48ss and are exclusive to i-DesignR Pro
*Must have i-DesignRŪ Software (Lite, CE or Pro) in order to install and use Graphtec Rhinestone Fonts.
Rhinestone
Fonts Vol. 1 include: Andy, Arial, Boscribe, Combo, Curlz, Dakota, Double
Line Letters, French Script, Lucida, Riesling, Techno, Times New Roman, Tiny
Letters, Varsity Outline, Victory
i-DesignR
Rhinestone Fonts Volume 1 - $99.00 - Purchase
All software sales
are final, no returns allowed
Rhinestone
Fonts Vol. 2 include: Amperzand, Bebe, Bella, Bradley Hand Writing, Brush
Script, Bubbles, Chalkboard, Fiolex, Girls are Weird, Harrington, Night Club,
Scribbl, Tiny Roman, Tiny Tiny, Varsity Filled
i-DesignR
Rhinestone Fonts Volume 2 - $99.00 - Purchase
All software sales
are final, no returns allowed
Whew! That’s enough of this. Let’s go learn about Rhinestones, Rhinestoning Supplies and Business Building Ideas. Click Here
Not interested in rhinestones? No problem, but you should really learn about regular clothing and fashion vinyl. That knowledge could make you a ton of money sometime. Click Here
Combine
any vinyl with Rhinestones to achieve results people will talk
about for a long time.
