Sublimation software...Do you really need it?

[Brian Knuckles]

Hey there everyone.

We had our offices broken into a few weeks ago and they took our PC with our dongle on the back.

Ergosoft, said that I still would have to pay another $1500 to get another dongle...Can you believe that! :confused:

Anyhow, I already have photoshop to color correct my images and I have Corel 15 so I can tile my images...do I still need sublimation software?

Can any help me out with this? What do I miss out on this...
Thank you

BK

[David Woodruff]

What is sublimation software? That in itself suggests that an increase in temperature just vaporized the info into the quantum world, the no mans land of quantum non-locality.

[Scott Shepherd]

Sublimation software? We print from Illustrator, Photoshop, and Corel using the driver and an ICC profile for the printer.

No need for anything other than the driver and profile, I wouldn't think.

[Bob Argus]

We currently use CorelDraw with print drivers provided on the sublimation ink company's website as well as our supplier's website.

We have also worked with three other sublimation shops --- none of them use any special software - they print directly from either CorelDraw or Illustrator.

[Mike Null]

I can't say I've ever heard of any sublimation software. I use CorelDraw.

Did you have insurance?

[Larry Bratton]

Me neither..I do know this, $1500 bucks will buy a gem dandy bunch of software that would more than likely outshine this unknown product called sublimation software.

[AL Ursich]

I hear the Drag clicking on my Fly Rod....... A Slick Salesman and Software Company with a overly expensive Dongle.... (Sight Unseen Opinion)...

I use Corel for Sublimation and Laser.... Bought Smart Design years ago.... I use it about once a year.... for the Clip Art.... But Frank usually is quicker posting Clip Art than I can find it in the book...

Sorry you got broke into..... My fear too....:eek: Use a PO Box on my Business Cards... Shop is zoned Low Impact.... No Showroom, No Visitors.... OK with me.

AL

[Brian Knuckles]

I used ErgoSoft...but I've tried it out of Corel and things seem fine!

What is the best way to keep my colors consistent if I don't have a densitometer?

Do I have to worry about ICC profiles going bad? Also anyone know how to load a new ICC profile?

Thx everyone for the help

[Scott Shepherd]

What inks are you using? If it's Sawgrass Ink, they have all the supporting files and documents available on their website and they are good about offering up tech support as well.

Not much to worry about once it's set, as most of the dye sub stuff is all on the same type substrate, so you don't have all the color variation problems you have with typical printing on paper media, at least in my opinion.

I also have no found a full blown icc profile for dye sub. Seems no one wants to work on one that is pantone friendly.

[Brian Knuckles]

So I'm having some issues with Corel...its doesn't want to print my images...it picks and chooses randomly when it prints.

It almost looks like it dumps the file. I've reboot PC and Printer and still getting a basic dump...anythoughts?

I tired printing out of Illustrator and Indesign and it worked however I have a 4'x3' image that I need to tile into 6' square images...does anyone know how to do that in illustrator or indesign?
thx

[Scott Shepherd]

Here's a couple of tips :

http://www.design.iastate.edu/LABS/tutorials/illustrator/illtut0005.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_16657_divide-artwork-print.html

Google print tiling in illustrator for more.

[Martin Boekers]

It looks like this is a Rip designed for large format printer.

Do you use a large format printer?

The small format ones that I guess most of us use Ricoh, Epson etc
don't typically require a Rip, although it may be more consistant
and efficient. ICC profiles work well. I am very happy with the Ricoh
GX7000 that I use. With a full set of inks it is under the $1500 dongle.

I tile in Corel, I may not be doing it the most efficient way but it works
for my tile projects.

I make a full size layout, making each square slightly larger so it's easy
to center a tile in. Then select all and combine the pieces. Next I size the image
to the final size. After I do this I powerclip it into the tile out line.
You can then separate the individual tiles. I put one up on each page then print.

I imagine this was all done for you in one step with the software you had.
Rips do have many features such as nesting etc that are nice, but for us
smaller shops it may be hard to justify the price.

Like others have said, if you have insurance (hopefully replacement cost)
all your software should be covered. Most insurance companies that have
replacement cost, if you prove you had it and that it was stolen they can
arrange directly tho have the products shipped to you, no getting est. running around
negotiating with them. You may ask them to replace everything that was
stolen. I had to deal with this a while back and having the insurance company
take care of it made my life so much easier!


Marty

[Martin Boekers]

I used ErgoSoft...but I've tried it out of Corel and things seem fine!

What is the best way to keep my colors consistent if I don't have a densitometer?

Do I have to worry about ICC profiles going bad? Also anyone know how to load a new ICC profile?

Thx everyone for the help

Color Management Software is out there, but it's very expensive. If you
have a commercial photo lab near you you may be able to trade off some engraving
for building ICC profiles for you. The basic ICC profiles that come with the
setup are usually fine. One thing to remember though, they are based on the
assumption that the substrate you are printing to is white. So they are sort of an average.
If it is off white or gold or another color
there will be differences in appearences. Also different brands may have different
coatings so if fine tuned accuracy is what you are after you may
want a custom ICC profile for each product.

I believe that Sawgrass will build ICC profiles for you. That may involve
transfering a color chart to the substrate and send that to them, again
the cost and the value is something you'll have to decide.

There may be issues with the file size, as Corel doesn't deal well with large
file sizes. I think the Rip deals with it as opposed to Corel doing it all.

Hope this helps.

Marty

[Nick Michalares]

Cadlink requires a USB dongle with their software and they will simply sell you a dongle for a minimal price if you can provide a police report that it was actually stolen. Check to see if your company may have that policy, also.