Help a newbie out with a software pick, please...

Hi all,

I am starting a new residential window tint business. We have selected a Graphtec cutter but I cannot find a simple software package to run it. It seems all the tint specific programs are very expensive because they are mainly for cars (with all the car templates, etc) OR the packages are for vinyl signs with all kinds of graphics and sign stuff.

Is there a simple package for a reasonable price that will just let me put in window dimensions and drive the cutter? I know you can learn Illustrator or similar drawing programs but it just seems like someone would offer a simple package that lets you just cut standard shapes and dimensions of residential window tint. I have searched the web and asked suppliers and they either say to learn Illustrator or buy something like 20/20 which is expensive and I don't need 99% of the features.

Can anyone help......

Thanks in advance!

The only options for Plotters are going to be the monthly charge of 20/20, computercut (plus price of the software). Photoshop CS2 have vectorizing capabilities that will give you the options to trace images but you are still looking at around $500.00 for the software. but even then you would still need the cut screen to give you a "dialog page" that will let you import the shapes and images to in order to cut. No cheap way. I purchased my plotter and software for around 8k, and still lack some fuctions for some flat glass apps I would like to use.

Just hop online and do a search on google for vinyl sign software or something like that. Sounds like all you need is a program to cut out squares/rectangles. You can use flexi or a program that is cheaper but the same idea with less features. I just ran that search and looked around. Found some software as cheap as $400 and as high as $1500. You could prob get away with a cheaper program if you're just cutting shapes but you might limit yourself with that program if you want more features later.
Hope this helps.

I plotter cut alot of film,but i cant imagine how precut patterns would help with res./comm. installs! maybe on french panes.

It wont help, it will actualy make the jobs harder! Except for like you said french panes, or if your putting a design in the film.