Yeah, I don't see how any modern sign shop can roll with just using an app like Flexi. I'm more accustomed to using CorelDRAW, but I increasingly have to get a lot of work done using Illustrator. It's all due to certain features and effects that get baked into corporate branding and other kinds of customer provided artwork. Gradient fills that use transparency and blending modes related to transparency are especially prone to failure. The stuff can fall apart in unpredictable ways when opened directly in CorelDRAW. Some effects aren't supported at all (free-form gradients, gradients on line strokes, etc). That kind of stuff really falls apart when an attempt is made to port it over to Flexi.
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Flexi and illustrator new issue?
- Thread starter The Vector Doctor
- Start date
we have been running flexi 19 since it came out with no real problems
i good clients brother is a "designer" (in the same way that i an a neurosurgeon)
since he never "converts to curves" i have to open all his work in production manager
flexi itself does a font licensing enforcement check that PM does not
i would be curious if stacy can open your test files in production manager and if this would be a good work around for your clients?
i good clients brother is a "designer" (in the same way that i an a neurosurgeon)
since he never "converts to curves" i have to open all his work in production manager
flexi itself does a font licensing enforcement check that PM does not
i would be curious if stacy can open your test files in production manager and if this would be a good work around for your clients?
Stacey K
I like making signs
Challenge accepted!
Results:
> "Whitewood file" - yes, it imported into Production Manager, crashed Flexi
> "Frenchy's" - RIP error, it worked in Flexi
This makes zero sense. Both opened in Corel with zero editing issues.
The Vector Doctor
Chief Bezier Manipulator
FYI both files were simple vector files. Just solid color fills, no effects and saved down to version 8 illustrator files
The Vector Doctor
Chief Bezier Manipulator
Boudica
I'm here for Educational Purposes
What view setting? When trouble shooting I'll choose several options, starting with outline. Also, make sure to show all hidden objects. I realize you built this, but I'd be curious to see outline and overprint views.
And if someone did something flaky in creating the art you are working with, before you ever saw it
Boudica
I'm here for Educational Purposes
I think In vector Drs case... He created the vector from a bit map. But still.... I have issues with double cut paths. On provided artwork, but I created the path. It's an ongoing issue, with a particular customer. I'm still trying to figure out why. Artwork one deals with is complex.
The Vector Doctor
Chief Bezier Manipulator
no hidden objects, no effects. Outline mode shown in the one sample. No double cuts. No clipping masks. No live fonts. No pantone colors. No open shapes. Very few bezier points. Just solid rgb fills. No shapes that need expanded. No original bitmap shapes left over from the tracing. No strokes.
Have i left anything out?
I am really trying to stress here and have said it multiple times. there is ABSOLUTELY nothing weird/special about these vector shapes. Adobe has made some kind of minor change recently that is not compatible with some versions of Flexi. It has been confirmed by Stacey on here and another one of my customers. Errors are being produced. The purpose of this thread was to confirm that there is in fact some kind of change in the software. I have traced over 100,000 jobs and rarely get error messages from customers. Usually it is from corrupt eps files when they are emailed. But there has been some change that is causing issues with Illustrator >> Flexi. I have a customer who has ordered over 750 files in a 6 year period and i always send ai vectors. In the past month he cannot open my vector ai files so i am sending pdf files instead. 99% of the files sent to him are ai saved down to version 8
Have i left anything out?
I am really trying to stress here and have said it multiple times. there is ABSOLUTELY nothing weird/special about these vector shapes. Adobe has made some kind of minor change recently that is not compatible with some versions of Flexi. It has been confirmed by Stacey on here and another one of my customers. Errors are being produced. The purpose of this thread was to confirm that there is in fact some kind of change in the software. I have traced over 100,000 jobs and rarely get error messages from customers. Usually it is from corrupt eps files when they are emailed. But there has been some change that is causing issues with Illustrator >> Flexi. I have a customer who has ordered over 750 files in a 6 year period and i always send ai vectors. In the past month he cannot open my vector ai files so i am sending pdf files instead. 99% of the files sent to him are ai saved down to version 8
GaSouthpaw
Profane and profane accessories.
The worst part for your customers is that, unless they have the current Flexi (Flexi Complete, build 4863, I think it is), SAi will not offer any solutions. And even then, they're liable to say the problem is in Adobe (which it seems to be).
Flexi obviously doesn't like something in the file, but figuring out what that is is a huge P.I.T.A. When I had trouble with AI files going to Flexi years ago (haven't used Flexi in quite some time myself), I would save the art as an EPS. It almost always opened correctly that way.
Flexi obviously doesn't like something in the file, but figuring out what that is is a huge P.I.T.A. When I had trouble with AI files going to Flexi years ago (haven't used Flexi in quite some time myself), I would save the art as an EPS. It almost always opened correctly that way.
Stacey K
I like making signs
Another test...
Opened both files in Corel and saved as AI - neither would open in Flexi. Did not crash, just did nothing, no errors, just nothing happened. Waiting and waiting and nothing lol
I then saved both as PDF and EPS in Corel and all these files opened in Flexi with no issues.
Opened both files in Corel and saved as AI - neither would open in Flexi. Did not crash, just did nothing, no errors, just nothing happened. Waiting and waiting and nothing lol
I then saved both as PDF and EPS in Corel and all these files opened in Flexi with no issues.
The Vector Doctor
Chief Bezier Manipulator
so it appears for the time being that ai files and some versions of Flexi do not mix
There is another "wrinkle" to add to this story. Apparently some people are running into trouble opening down-saved Illustrator .AI files from the current version in older versions of Illustrator like CS5, CS6 etc. There is a new beta of Illustrator that addresses the issue. Maybe it might also solve the problem for opening Illustrator files in Flexi.