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Home : Support : FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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Answers
How do I access the clipart that came with my Wizard program? The clipart provided with the Wizard uses the *.LGO data format – a proprietary data format for the Wizard. In the 4.1 and earlier versions it is necessary to use the Import function and browse, if necessary, to find the Clipart folder. In the 5.0 and 5.1 versions there is a tool in the Toolbox on the left side of the screen (scissors and a small arrow) that will take you directly to the Clipart folder. Back to top What kind of objects does the Wizard use? There are three basic kinds of objects in the Wizard: (1) a line of text, (2) a “Graphic” and (3) a “Group”. When an object is selected (as indicated by the eight control points around it), which type object it is will be displayed in the Help Bar in the upper left part of the display. A line of text created in the Wizard will be identified by the name of the font (e.g. Helvetica Medium) rather than “text”. A file that has been imported from another program will appear as a Graphic or a Group, but not as a line of text. Back to top What’s the difference between a bitmap (or raster) image and a vector image? A bitmap image is a digital version of a sign design or any graphic composed of small black and white or colored dots which, when viewed from a distance, appear as a continuous image. A vector image consists of zero width lines and arcs that go around letters, logos and other shapes. For applications like vinyl signmaking, the vectors are usually closed loops that start and end at the same exact position and each loop is “filled in” with a color. Bitmap (or raster) images can be converted to vector images by “vectorizing” the design. Back to top Why do the curves on the screen have flat spots?Curved shapes in graphic images are displayed in the Wizard and in most other graphic design programs as a series of short straight lines rather than as curves. In the Wizard you can adjust the Curve Resolution for arcs and for Bezier curves by changing the setting in the Tools menu/Options/General/Curve Resolution. The default setting is 4 degrees and the minimum setting is 1 degree. The larger the degree setting, the more noticeable the flat spots will be, the less computing the program must do and therefore the faster the screen will draw the curves. If you have a complicated design with many curves and it’s taking too long to refresh the screen when you make changes, adjust the Curve Resolution to a higher number. When you print the design, the smoothness of the curves will be the same as you see on the display. Back to top
What kind of objects does the Wizard use? There are three basic kinds of objects in the Wizard: (1) a line of text, (2) a “Graphic” and (3) a “Group”. When an object is selected (as indicated by the eight control points around it), which type object it is will be displayed in the Help Bar in the upper left part of the display. A line of text created in the Wizard will be identified by the name of the font (e.g. Helvetica Medium) rather than “text”. A file that has been imported from another program will appear as a Graphic or a Group, but not as a line of text. Back to top What’s the difference between a bitmap (or raster) image and a vector image? A bitmap image is a digital version of a sign design or any graphic composed of small black and white or colored dots which, when viewed from a distance, appear as a continuous image. A vector image consists of zero width lines and arcs that go around letters, logos and other shapes. For applications like vinyl signmaking, the vectors are usually closed loops that start and end at the same exact position and each loop is “filled in” with a color. Bitmap (or raster) images can be converted to vector images by “vectorizing” the design. Back to top Why do the curves on the screen have flat spots?Curved shapes in graphic images are displayed in the Wizard and in most other graphic design programs as a series of short straight lines rather than as curves. In the Wizard you can adjust the Curve Resolution for arcs and for Bezier curves by changing the setting in the Tools menu/Options/General/Curve Resolution. The default setting is 4 degrees and the minimum setting is 1 degree. The larger the degree setting, the more noticeable the flat spots will be, the less computing the program must do and therefore the faster the screen will draw the curves. If you have a complicated design with many curves and it’s taking too long to refresh the screen when you make changes, adjust the Curve Resolution to a higher number. When you print the design, the smoothness of the curves will be the same as you see on the display. Back to top
What’s the difference between a bitmap (or raster) image and a vector image? A bitmap image is a digital version of a sign design or any graphic composed of small black and white or colored dots which, when viewed from a distance, appear as a continuous image. A vector image consists of zero width lines and arcs that go around letters, logos and other shapes. For applications like vinyl signmaking, the vectors are usually closed loops that start and end at the same exact position and each loop is “filled in” with a color. Bitmap (or raster) images can be converted to vector images by “vectorizing” the design. Back to top Why do the curves on the screen have flat spots?Curved shapes in graphic images are displayed in the Wizard and in most other graphic design programs as a series of short straight lines rather than as curves. In the Wizard you can adjust the Curve Resolution for arcs and for Bezier curves by changing the setting in the Tools menu/Options/General/Curve Resolution. The default setting is 4 degrees and the minimum setting is 1 degree. The larger the degree setting, the more noticeable the flat spots will be, the less computing the program must do and therefore the faster the screen will draw the curves. If you have a complicated design with many curves and it’s taking too long to refresh the screen when you make changes, adjust the Curve Resolution to a higher number. When you print the design, the smoothness of the curves will be the same as you see on the display. Back to top
Why do the curves on the screen have flat spots?Curved shapes in graphic images are displayed in the Wizard and in most other graphic design programs as a series of short straight lines rather than as curves. In the Wizard you can adjust the Curve Resolution for arcs and for Bezier curves by changing the setting in the Tools menu/Options/General/Curve Resolution. The default setting is 4 degrees and the minimum setting is 1 degree. The larger the degree setting, the more noticeable the flat spots will be, the less computing the program must do and therefore the faster the screen will draw the curves. If you have a complicated design with many curves and it’s taking too long to refresh the screen when you make changes, adjust the Curve Resolution to a higher number. When you print the design, the smoothness of the curves will be the same as you see on the display. Back to top
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