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The Bridge, the Sign Biz Network private Website is a benchmark project to put industry intelligence in the hands of Network Members.

A very positive first phase of the site launch saw:

• All 7 geographic regions of the Sign Biz Network have submitted nominees for the Network Advisory Council [see below];
• The numerous Forums have been visited and discussions started;
• The Chat Room Cyber Cafe is now open;
• The ReadMe.File newsletters are all online and archived;
• Very cool marketing pages have been posted;
• Legal and industry news articles are up;
• And the Calendar features events through the end of the year, including 7 seminars/events for September.

You have received notifications by email as each stage has unfolded. If you have NOT seen these notices, please contact Sign Biz to update your email address. More Below



• Scoop!

  
  IT’S OVER!

  Inspire Has Retired!

  Sign Biz Inc. is providing the first release of this information in the United States: ScanVec - Amiable has confirmed that there will be no further production or programming for the sign industry rip-and-print software known as Inspire.

  The good news is that CASmate users can grab hold of the proverbial silver lining as follows:

  Keep your CASmate key when switching to FlexiSign Pro

  Get Advanced Bitmap to Vector tools

  Make Flexi "look and feel like CASmate"

  Get superior text capabilities

  AND

  Get a big ol’ discount on CASmate to Flexi Upgrade-- [Call for details] 1-800-633-5580

Get On-Line
Gaining Competitive Science and Technology Intelligence Drives Business Outcomes

2003-2004 ADVISORY BOARD TERM CANDIDATES NOMINATED

INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING:

At www.thesignbiznetwork.com, go to this home page, enter via password, then click on "Latest News" [top left]. You will find:

1. Sign Biz Network Regions for Advisory Board nominees

2. List of nominees for each region

3. Any and all comments/commendations submitted for each

4. Voting instructions

More information can be found in the Members' Private Website.

Getting Client DP Files Out Of The Starting Gate
BY MICHAEL J. BARNES
SIGN BIZ INC. SIGN TECHNOLOGY INSTRUCTOR

When I was working in a Sign Biz network store, I occasionally had to deal with graphic artists who would bring me files that just would not work. Some files I could not match the font. Some where I could not even match the color for a digital print because the artist created it in RGB mode, and digital prints must be printed in CMYK.

As sign professionals, it is our place to explain to clients how files should be manipulated so they will become the great works of art that the graphic designer envisioned. If at all possible, all fonts must be converted to outlines or curves (dependent on the program utilized). Many graphic programs, including Illustrator and CorelDraw, are capable of this procedure. If not possible, make sure that the fonts are included.

TrueType fonts are easy to transport, however, PostScript and Type 1 fonts are a little tricky. These font types utilize two different files to make up one font (a screen font and a print font). Both of these files are necessary in order to re-create the font for final output.  More Tips and Tricks found in the Members' Private Website.

FILE PREP
TIPS

Provide all the essentials. This includes all working files, fonts and images. Separate image files such as TIFFs, BMPs, JPEGs, etc. that are in the file must be included on the disk just in case the image does not come in correctly when imported onto your system

Use Photoshop or Illustrator. According to the digital print professionals interviewed, these files work best. Both file types can be imported into most programs, including Flexi and Inspire. For those who are in the DP field, I strongly encourage utilizing Photoshop for most of your color correction needs

Keep it layered. By keeping Photoshop files layered, it will be easier to manipulate objects in case something needs to be moved for production purposes

Send files in CMYK. This should be a no-brainer, however most graphic artists don't think in those terms. Also, include Pantone numbers when color matching is critical

Send a color proof. Again, this should be a no-brainer.

Finally, some graphics files just cannot be taken by most sign programs. Such examples include Quark Xpress and Pagemaker. There are a couple ways to overcome this problem. First, as a sign professional, you may want to purchase these programs. Second, suggest to the artist to save the files as an .EPS files. To do this, the artist must print the files, through the print dialogue, and indicate that the graphic is to be Printed To File.

Flexi and Inspire both carry PostScript interpreters. However, the filter isn't always 100 percent when importing the file. [Flexi does have a true Adobe Postscipt 3 Rip.] If you have CorelDraw, I strongly recommending importing EPS files there.

Get on the Bridge!

Why?

(1) To fuel further economic growth. The site sustains a pace usually reserved for action thrillers!

(2) Appeals to both the left and right sides of the brain with Member contributions & sharpened by stunning images and brilliant editing.

(3) Designed only for Network Members, because they are smarter than your average entrepreneur!

(4) This is an asset that taps important traditions and leaves no community behind.

©2000 Sign Biz Inc.