Signs of the Times - October 2012 - (Page 42)

TECHNOLOGY REVIEW By Chris and Kathi Morrison Chris and Kathi Morrison own and operate The Image Specialists, a full-service graphics company based in Clements, CA. Chris is also a Microsoft-certified systems engineer. Aries LED Wizard 7 Software Power to the signmaker ormerly, design-application software processes consumed much more time than is required today. Then, many of today’s simple procedures required hours of processing, but, thank goodness, those times are over. Still, a few remaining methods need to be streamlined. For example, some five or so years ago, LED manufacturers that supplied lamp systems for channelletter and sign-cabinet builders were required to provide cost estimates and lamp-placement CAD drawings for each estimate. Normally, this process required two days of processing and added, albeit unseen, to the overall lamp cost. Further problems occurred when changes became necessary. Today, the now popular LED modules illuminate countless channel letters, cans and sign cabinets and, until recently, the estimate/layout demand inundated the LED sellers. Aries Graphics Intl., the established producer of Sign Wizard and Neon Wizard, has developed, and now offers, its LED Wizard 7 software F Key Information Aries Graphics Intl. 365 S. Rancho Santa Fe Rd., Ste. 203 San Marcos, CA 92078 (760) 752-7640 www.aries-graphics.com; www.ledwizard.com Contact: Jeff Fassett, VP sales and marketing (800) 294-7273 Jeff@aries-graphics.com with PowerFlow technology that improves channel-letter and signcabinet production by quickly creating complete, accurate and professional LED-placement layouts. It also provides necessary priceestimate information. LED Wizard 7 allows you to choose from more than 50 LED suppliers (click on the manufacturer, and the software provides the lamp stock choices). It also provides realistic module previews (shown to scale with the appropriate number and color of LEDs), and LED suppliers can create custom module drawings with the Supplier Edition. The Auto Populate function automatically decides LED placement, but you can easily override the module count, transitions, placement and angles with the collection of editing tools. The software’s wiring display shows wires in place and, get this, indicates when a stock module wire won’t reach the next terminal. Finally, it houses density (proximity) guidelines as supplied by the LED suppliers, to help you ensure balanced lighting density. As you add power supplies, the software indicates the unit load, watts and connected module count; it also allows power-supply load options. Final stats show the number of modules, watts and density for each letter or can, and the entire job. Finally, you can rig your cutting router to mark module placement on the sign backs, so the shop fabricator has the exact lamp placement, as well as all lighting information on the shop drawing. Aries says Version 7 is a major upgrade that, with added design capabilities and the new PowerFlow technology, allows your shop to create a finished design faster than ever before. All said, we think the time, effort and error savings make buying it a no-brainer. System Requirements CPU Minimum 2Ghz Intel or AMD, dual core. Hard Drive Approximately 200MB required for installation RAM 2GB OS Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP (32- and 64-bit) only. Mac owners: The software properly functions under VMWare Fusion for the Mac when used with Intel Macs, which will natively execute most of the code on the CPU, with a negligible loss in speed. The USB dongle is fully functional in this virtual environment. 42 SIGNS OF THE TIMES / OCTOBER 2012 / www.signweb.com http://www.aries-graphics.com http://www.ledwizard.com http://www.signweb.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - October 2012

Sign of theTimes - October 2012
ST Update
Technology Update
Vinyl Apps
Strictly Electric
LED Update
Software Update
Technology Review
Technology Review
Sign Museum News
New Products
2012 Vehicle Graphics Contest
Entry-level Electronic Digital Signage
The Proposed ISA Reorganization Plan
Enter ST's 2013 Intl. Sign Contest
SGIA Expo 2012
The Value of Signs
Advertising Index
Editorially Speaking

Signs of the Times - October 2012