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Illustrator to CAD/CASMATE can it be done

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Terry Mehan

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May 6, 2003, 2:16:28 PM5/6/03
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Does anyone know if it is possible to get Illustrator across plateform in EPS,DXF,HPGL/PLOT,Ai or Ascii formats for use on a flate bed plotter driver by an IBM
Thanks in Advance
Terry

Wade Zimmerman

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May 6, 2003, 2:23:50 PM5/6/03
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Yes! It should work as EPS, DXF,.DWG or AI.

Terry Mehan

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May 6, 2003, 8:09:42 PM5/6/03
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Thanks Wade,
but the problem is how to get it into these formats from illustrator. export from illustrator are files like JPEG,TIFF,PIC etc., which are files that normal software see as delivering dots in line after line where CAD type programmes are looking for plotter points. i'm guessing here but there may need to be a programmme in IBM which will interpret the illustrator file then save it as a CAD type file.
Does that all make sense.......
Terry

Philippe JACQUES

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May 7, 2003, 11:56:24 AM5/7/03
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NCS MagiSign appeas a easier solution as it allows to drive more than 350 cutting plotters DIRECTLY from a palette inside Adobe Illustrator on mac (many flatbed plotters). Email me for more info.

Export frequently generates trubbles. If ever you want to proceed so, visit <http://www.summadirect.com> or e-mail to dog...@summadirect.com. They have a solution for your need.

Philippe JACQUES
Author of the MagiSign plug-in
<http://www.magisign.com>

Cindy

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May 7, 2003, 11:35:27 PM5/7/03
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I save as Illustrator EPS to CASMATE ALL the time. Casmate then needs to import as EPS. You can then plot assuming you correctly vectorized your EPS in Illustrator.

You don't need any extra plug-ins

BTW, EPS is native to Illustrator so you are not exporting but saving

Cindy

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May 8, 2003, 12:54:54 AM5/8/03
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Phillip, why should he buy additional software when the two he has are perfectly capable? I can flawlessly send files generated on my Mac in Illustrator to Casmate and Gerber software used by PC or Mac. The reverse is also true.

Richard Schletty

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May 8, 2003, 2:06:34 AM5/8/03
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For an older Casmate program, you may need to save the Illustrator file as EPS with PC (TIF) preview and version 4 or 7 compatibility. I send AI-EPS files to a local signmaker who imports them into Casmate without a hitch. I outline my fonts before saving.

Wade Zimmerman

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May 8, 2003, 1:51:14 AM5/8/03
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Terry,

AI 9 and 10 will export as .dwg and .dxf aswell as open .dxf and .dwg files from CAD programs and certainly as Cindy pointed out you can save as .eps from illustratorand i understand the wmf files will work as well. All of which can be saved or exported from AI 9 and 10.

Cindy

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May 8, 2003, 2:27:52 AM5/8/03
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I usually save my sign eps files as version 6. Works well with all the sign shops. The Gerbers do well with ai files.

I have played around with DXF, WMF but since he is using CASMATE and EPS is the cleanest file for cutting I would recommend using that.

Philippe JACQUES

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May 8, 2003, 3:38:34 AM5/8/03
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Cyndy asked : Phillip, why should he buy additional software when the two he has are perfectly capable? I can flawlessly send files generated on my Mac in Illustrator to Casmate and Gerber software used by PC or Mac. The reverse is also true.

Reason is productivity.

Sure, the solution you are using works. The addition of a plug-in in AI allows you to use a single file format and a single interface (the rich Illustrator at your fingertips, considering you just have a click to send data to the plotter). You would avoid all the drawbacks of the export of the datas to a second file in a second file format, in a software with a different interface and far less tools at your fingertips

Sure, there is no advantage if you are sending the data to an external signshop. If you are happy with your current solution, why not ? If you consider your Illustrator on Mac is your main design station, it could be an easier for your whole process to reconsider the way you are producing sign.

Using the solution I recommand you could consider Adobe Illustrator as your signgle signmaking software, used for drawing as for plotting. The plot files could be generate on the "design station" and send directly to the cutting plotter (add a magisign, a keyspan, a serial cable to your curent equipement). You could also consider production from a slave computer. Currently, a PC is used at this purpose and so you have to export and complicate your life with the complexicity of file format. My solution would also you to link a Mac as "plotter slave" to the flatbed plotter, to install a "magisign server" on this one and to use it to plot files generate by the combo "MagiSign/Illustrator" from any computer on the same network, including the slave one if ever you prefer to open files within Illustrator until the last second before to plot (a licence for one MagiSign installation and for one server is included in the price of this solution, additional licence are possible for more than one "combo", but you could design on any Illustrator of your network, move the files to the "MagiSign station" and plot from this single computer.

So I invert you question : why loosing time to export file from AI to another software format and than to send those datas to the plotter when it is possible to reduce this process to the latest segment, sending file directly from AI to the plotter ?

I keep at your disposal for any further info.

Regards
Philippe JACQUES

Cindy

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May 8, 2003, 11:54:48 AM5/8/03
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Philippe,

The fact that you keep referring to ai files being "exported" tells me you lack understanding. I also think it is pretty funny that you just happen to sell this $700 solution you are offering.

Secondly, not only do I send files to external sign makers but I also have a plotter in the other room that just happens to be run by Casmate on a PC. It takes about 2 seconds to get a file into Casmate. Files are generated in my Illustrator as well as Corel (I can't convinve anyone to give that up) on the PC.

Philippe JACQUES

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May 8, 2003, 12:28:17 PM5/8/03
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you lack understanding.


Considering the worldwide sales of MagiSign and the satisfaction testimonial of my customers, your opinion is not important for me.

It takes about 2 seconds to get a file into Casmate. Fine. You are happy
with your solution. Doest it mean my solution is bad ?

Enjoy your live with Adobe Illustrator

Philippe JACQUES

Cindy

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May 8, 2003, 12:48:40 PM5/8/03
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No one is saying that you don't have a good product although I really wouldn't know since I've never heard of you and I know a lot of sign people.

I think the question was "Illustrator to CAD/CASMATE can it be done".

The guy obviously has Illustrator and is already dealing with Casmate. He wasn't asking "does anyone know of another software package I could run out and spend my money on?"

Oh and yes, I love Illustrator.

Philippe JACQUES

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May 8, 2003, 1:33:41 PM5/8/03
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Sorry, but I had reduce the question to "Illustrator to CAD or Casmate" and so enlarged the question to "know a good solution to cut my file considering the drawing is done in Adobe Illustrator".
Considering many plotter resellers are ignoring all about Mac, many buyers still ignores a same cutting plotter could be driven from a Mac as from a PC.

The problem of prices is not only mine : ever understood that a distributor or a reseller want to have expensive software to sell. A cheap product does not interest them as the charges are to expensive (marketing, support, updates,…).
The current price of MagiSign offers the most to customers as to resellers. How many product were introduced and disappear ? What's about Casmate ?

I just keep the "dust" after both and keep the products from 1996.

Regards

Philippe JACQUES

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