#HOW DO I EXPORT INSCAPE TO SIGNCUT PRO REGISTRATION#
However, If file exporting/importing into my cutting software worked better, I could print and use registration marks there. Printing registration marks is pretty crucial. Yes, I do mean text to path, sorry about that. They need to make sure they address the needs of the masses before they put their developers on another project in some other program (Photo or Publisher). I'm hoping they put as much resources into getting it right as they do developing three different programs over the next year. But, if Serif can get it right, they will OWN the Mac! They have a lot riding on their success or failure of this product. Now I know why people stick with Adobe or Corel as well as Windows. So, even when I do create a project in AD, its not that easy to cut it. I think Serif uses a different EPS postscript file language and there is some sort of incompatibility issue between software programs. Importing into Graphtec studio works but layers and colors are not imported properly if at all. It's very frustrating I can tell you that much. I don't even know if there is an import option for the Mimaki. Without those plugins, the only other option you have is to export the file yourself and import it into either Graphtec Studio or Mimaki FineCut. Affinity Designer is so new that they haven't even heard of it. I have been in constant contact with SignCut as well as Graphtec for this but I haven't had much luck with any replies. The plugin will probably have to be made by your cutters developers. Until then, All I can do is wait and trust that someone with a higher pay grade then me will figure this out -) I just don't have the programming skills to make a plug-in and I certainly don't know enough about color pallets and EPS/SVG compatibility rules to figure out why my exports from AD aren't importing with the accuracy that I need.
#HOW DO I EXPORT INSCAPE TO SIGNCUT PRO PRO#
With that being said, I'm happy to use either Graphtec's software or something like SignCut Pro on the Mac along with Affinity Designer. Affinity Designer isn't just good, its great! And it has most everything that you need for the vinyl/cnc industries. Yes, there are a few exceptions to that but the main reason is that there really isn't any good vector software for the Mac until now. The biggest thing is that most cutting software is only supported under Windows. Most every sign business that I know of uses either Adobe Illustrator or Corel and then they have their own cutting software that works with those files in the form of a plug-in. They just need to be able to allow third party plug-ins to work or make sure that EPS/SVG exports are fully supported with the cutter software. Sound's like they have enough on their plate already. I don't think that serif needs to worry about that kind of stuff or else they are going to have to include elements such as registration marks, weeding lines, contour cutting, cut by color and cut by layer. Other cutters use HPGL Language (Hewlett Packard Graphics Language). I have a Graphtec cutter and it uses its own GPGL(Graphtec Plotter Graphics Language).
I don't think that Affinity Designer will ever be able to be used to cut directly from it because many cutters use different language specifications. Keep up the great work Serif and if you as a user really want the benefits of the Affinity product line, get a Mac and be happy. They have designed a super responsive program that will be(and apparently is) the envy of the competition. Was it to fill a niche or to capitalize on the the OS's benefits and abilities? Obviously that question has already been answered. Serif made their choice and decided to capitalize on all the features that it's chosen operating system has to offer. They all offer one benefit over the other in certain areas. I use Windoze, Linux and OS X operating systems. If you want the benefits that a Bugatti has to offer, you don't buy a Ford Fusion and get mad that Bugatti doesn't make an engine for your Ford. If they only realized the limitations of their choice of operating systems, they would understand why this is Mac only in the first place.
It's funny how so many people want all that Affinity has to offer on their PC.
I feel that your decision to go Mac only is spot on.