Sign Update

CorelDraw® Graphics Suite X5 delivers more versatility, content and colour tools for graphics professionals

Thursday, 01 April 2010 00:00

Corel Corporation has introduced CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X5, the newest edition of the company's award-winning package of professional graphics applications. With more than 50 new and enhanced features, CorelDraw Graphics Suite X5 includes major enhancements to asset management, colour management, web graphics, a wide variety of learning resources and more content than ever before. The electronic download and trial versions are available immediately and the product started shipping during March in English, German, French, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese language versions.

The new version of the suite focuses on innovations that matter the most to users in a wide variety of industries including sign making, graphic design, fashion/apparel design, wide format printing, marketing, print production and small business.

CorelDraw Graphics Suite X5 includes CorelDraw, an intuitive vector-illustration and page-layout application; Corel Photo-Paint, a professional image-editing application; Corel PowerTrace, a utility to quickly and accurately convert bitmaps into editable vector graphics, and Corel Capture, a one-click screen capture utility.

New to the suite is Corel Connect, a full-screen built-in content organiser that lets users search the suite's digital content and/or their computer or local network to quickly find the perfect complement for a design. CorelDraw Graphics Suite X5 also includes many supporting applications, a wide variety of content and in-depth training resources.

For more information about CorelDraw Graphics Suite X5 and to see a detailed list of new and enhanced features, visit www.corel.com/coreldraw. To learn more about how CorelDraw Graphics Suite is used worldwide, please visit the product's community site at http://coreldraw.com.

CorelDraw Graphics Suite X5 is available at a suggested retail price (SRP) of £399 for the full version or £179 for the upgrade. The product can be purchased immediately as an electronic software download (ESD) today from www.corel.com with the boxed software version of the suite available for pre-order through Corel or global retailers.

Identify Engraving Systems launches the brand new Metaza MPX-90

Thursday, 01 April 2010 00:00

This innovative imprinting technology from Roland allows the permanent inscription of a wide variety of materials that can be used in an even wider variety of markets. So, whatever your personalisation needs, whether it is adding dates and names on a baby's photo frame or engraving a family crest or monogram on silver cutlery as a wedding gift, the MPX-90 has the flexibility and impact power to create an everlasting impression.

The Metaza has a powerful diamond tipped marking head which can make clear marks on a broader range of materials than before including stainless steel which means that the possibilities are extensive for the end user. Ownership brings an even wider target market, from personalised jewellery to industrial labelling any, or all of which could make a real impact on your business.

Easy to use, the Metaza comes bundled with software and is ready to use right out of the box giving perfect results every time without the need for training.

See the Identify website for more information www.identify.co.uk

New marking tapes and banner materials are high visibility but not high cost

Thursday, 01 April 2010 00:00

The UNECE104 legislation due to come into force in July 2011 means that all newly registered HGVs weighing more than 7.5 tonnes and trailers of more than 3.5 tonnes operating in the UK must have retro-reflective vehicle safety markings.

The new rules are designed to increase the night time visibility of HGVs in order to reduce the chances of an accident. At night an HGV with the safety markings can be seen from up to 1,000 metres away; it is calculated that motorway drivers would see the HGV with safety markings up to nine seconds earlier than the same vehicle without markings.

McGill Signs' Hiviz Reflective vehicle safety marking tape and banner material utilise a diamond pattern, as many of the market leading products do, to provide a particularly high level of light reflected from the media. Both safety tapes and banner materials are available in yellow, green, blue, white, red, and orange.

"Massive savings can be made from choosing our new ranges compared to other high visibility media. A roll of our 50mm safety tape is about half the price of what some high visibility tapes can cost," says Phil McGrill, Proprietor of McGill Signs. "Also, it's very unusual to have banner material in more colours than just white. This new material can now be produced in many reflective fluorescent colours in banner material and reflective self adhesive tape for vehicle application."

Go to www.hivizreflective.co.uk or telephone 01494 482288 for more information.

Penloc GTi Clear and Quick-Fix - The future is quick and clear

Thursday, 01 April 2010 00:00

In today's very tough economic climate, signmaking businesses have to be able to offer better value, better quality and be more flexible and adaptable in the products and services they offer, to remain one step ahead of the competition.

Through listening to its customer base of many thousands of signmakers throughout Europe, Eurobond Adhesives Ltd has launched two brand new adhesive products, which will help signmakers in their drive to increase business.

Penloc GTi Clear is a unique two-part structural adhesive that is transparent but still retains all the fast curing and high strength characteristics you have come to expect from the Penloc range of adhesives with the added benefit of being clear. This makes it ideal for bonding clear materials such as acrylic and glass. It can be used to construct light boxes and backlit signs without showing any shadow areas from the adhesive bond line. It is ideal for bonding metals, most plastics, Corian, wood, glass and many more different substrates. Just think of the potential Penloc GTi Clear could add to your business. It's available in either 50ml or 380ml cartridges fitted with a turn on/off valve.

Are you fed up waiting 24hrs for your moisture curing adhesive to fully cure before you can move or work on your sign? Well Eurobond will also be launching Quick-Fix. This adhesive is a two-part fast curing flexible structural adhesive. Large surface areas of different materials move and flex with different thermal expansion rates. This can often lead to bond lines breaking down or even failing over time. Eurobond's QuickFix is a non hazardous, high quality, fast curing two-part adhesive supplied in a convenient 290ml cartridge to fit most sealant applicator guns. It is suitable for applications where a quick cure and high strength, permanently elastic bond is required or for applications where the bond design does not allow the normal penetration of atmospheric moisture to cure the adhesive. It can be applied in temperatures between +5°C and +40°C. QuickFix exhibits good resistance to water, UV, aliphatic solvents, mineral oils, grease, diluted inorganic acids and alkalis.

To find out how Eurobond can help you improve your signmaking come and visit us on stand E60 at the Sign & Digital show.

For further information call 01795 427888 or visit the website www.eurobond-adhesives.co.uk