I have downloaded FastArtist 2.0 thinking this would solve the problem of 1.5 sometimes closing out on me. Now I start up 2.0 and get "dongle error, not found" even though I went through and followed the instructions. I have started a support ticket with US Screen and got a message that I would receive an email. Now, I am reading here on the forum, they may be out of business. OH GREAT! What should I do?
Lisa,
FastArtist 2.0 is an upgrade that needs to be purchased. That's why it says dongle error - dongle not found. You get updated dongle files when you purchase the upgrade.
FastArtist 1.5 should still be installed on your computer and should still be working fine. Have you downloaded the update to 1.5.1? If you'd like, you can contact our support department tomorrow and we can direct connect to your computer to make sure everything is working fine. The phone number is 1-800-408-0040, 201-797-1504 or email
Job costing has been added. It's very accurate, taking into account how much you paid for the ink you're using and how much your labor costs are.
Vectorization controls have been improved, so it's easier to turn a bitmap into a vector image
You can print from Photoshop, Illustrator, and Corel Draw more easily.
You can drag .psd, .ai, and other files right into FastRIP. You can position and size them, even add an underbase, all without having to use FastARTIST.
A feature called Fluid Mask allows you to remove complex backgrounds from images in much less time than it would take in Photoshop.
A feature called SuperSize Image allows you to increase image resolution with better quality than Photoshop.
A Knock-Out feature makes preparing artwork with backgrounds for printing much easier.
People who print a lot can set up a hot folder. That means that they can just drop a piece of artwork into the folder and FastRIP will take care of ripping it and sending it to the printer, placing it in its proper position.
It's easy to tile a design, useful for example if you wanted to print 50 of the same patches.
There are more, but these are some major ones. If you have any questions about the features, feel free to ask.
-Alex
P.S. A photo of SuperSize Image at work is attached.
How much does the upgrade cost? Can it still be purchased with the current US screen situation?
Thanks
andy
Andy,
The upgrade costs $385 for T-Jet 1, 2 and 3 users; $510 for Blazer Express and Pro users; and $610 for Jumbo 1 and 2 users. Yes, it is available for purchase.
I forgot to mention that T-Jet 1, 2, and 3 users can do power cleanings, nozzle checks, and reset their waste ink tank straight from FastRIP with the upgrade.
Andy,
The upgrade costs $385 for T-Jet 1, 2 and 3 users; $510 for Blazer Express and Pro users; and $610 for Jumbo 1 and 2 users. Yes, it is available for purchase.
I forgot to mention that T-Jet 1, 2, and 3 users can do power cleanings, nozzle checks, and reset their waste ink tank straight from FastRIP with the upgrade.
-Alex
Alex,
If I purchase it through you when will I get the dongle files. Will it be emailed to me or sent in the mail?
I am also wondering if you get the free upgrade to 2.0 if you purchased a T-Jet Blazer in the last 5 months.
In your opinion, do you think it's worth it?
Will we see better printing quality in th enew rip?
Thanks.
I would go back and look over the feature list I posted. Here are a few questions for you.
Do you get a lot of low resolution graphics you need to enlarge?
Do you get a lot of images that are tough to separate from their backgrounds?
Do you have some bitmap images that would be more useful to you as vector files?
Do you want more information about how much a shirt is costing you in ink?
Having these features could make you more competitive and make you more money, but you have to decide whether these features will be useful for you. High-volume printers may find the hot folders feature indispensible, for example, while low-volume printers may not find it as important.
Do I think it's worth it? Yes. It's for any user that thinks that the features will help them create better quality graphics more easily, because that quality and ease of use will pay for itself over time. But if you don't plan on using any of the new features, you don't need to upgrade.
I appologize for the blooper...ALEX. Thank you for Your reply. The FA 2.0 downloaded so easy without asking for payment, I should have known it was too good. Is there a free upgrade for 1.5.1? And can I remove 2.0 and go back to 1.5 without any problems?
FastARTIST 1.5.1 is probably still installed on your computer, so you can go back and use it without issue. You can use Control Panels->Add/Remove Programs to remove FA 2.0. If 1.5.1 is no longer installed, you can just reinstall it after removing 2.0 and it will work fine.
I have tried uninstalling several times over the last few months. I just get so frustrated when it kicks me out of the program maybe 3 out of 5 times, when I get to 'apply clipping' it freezes up. I guess I will just deal with it for now.
FastArtist 2.0 
