Computer-generated signage entails more than inkjet-printing banners and posters on different types and sizes of materials. Today, signs can be digitally created from adhesive-backed vinyl lettering or various woods, plastics, and metals that have been digitally-sculpted into unusual shapes and dimensions. One full-service, multi-faceted supplier of computer-aided signmaking equipment and materials is Gerber Scientific Products of South Windsor, CT.
The company offers a wide range of sign-production equipment, including small- and wide-format thermal-transfer printers (the EDGE? and MAXX? 2) that can use metallic, white and spot-color foils to create visual effects that can't yet be achieved on wide-format inkjet printers, including Gerber's own Jetster? six-color wide-format inkjet printer. Gerber cutting equipment includes tabletop enVision? and ODYSSEY? wide-format cutting plotters and Sabre? routers.
To provide greater efficiency in using these tools to create signs from scratch, Gerber Scientific Products has updated its OMEGA? sign design and production software. The software includes enhanced output features, more job and resource management capabilities, and new design features designed to make it easier for graphics professionals to produces signs with vibrant, vivid colors. A full list of new features can be found on Gerber's web-site, but a few examples of specific improvements include multiple spot-color gradient fills, new print-to-cut capabilities, improved font management, a ThumbPrint utility for printing .PLT thumbnail images, and enhanced detail-edit functionality.
According to Gerber's Dana Goodale, “Our goal was to design a more stable and robust program filled with practical tools to improve functionality and output, as well as overall shop efficiency.” Many of the improvements were suggested by current users of Omega, most of whom are users of the Edge or Maxx thermal-transfer printing devices.
Omega 2.0 is compatible with Windows? XP, ME, 2000, and 98 and available in three configurations depending on the level of functionality required. (Gerber: 860-643-1515; www.gspinc.com).