Get help with creating your t-shirt graphics. Discuss t-shirt design software, special effect techniques, or other topics related to creating a t-shirt design on your computer.
Does anyone out there use Smart Designer? If so, how do you like it?
I've looked into it and am intrigued, but its certainly not cheap. I've been doing most of my designing in Illustrator, but have Corel Draw as well -- I just don't know how to use it as well.
Hello Krist,
Smart Designer is a very well put together program. I looked at it Years ago when they first started marketing it. I think I still have the DEMO they sent. The power of Smart designer is that it helps take a lot of the guess work out and it has a ton of tools to help speed the designing process along. Being able to access stock art and use a template format to combine text and images to together to create a truly custom piece is in it's self powerful and time saving. They have a wide array of subject art to cover most of the areas you might be doing art for.
Again this source is more of a mascot / sports theme art work, But if your marketing includes any kind of schools or sports I will tell you, The artwork will pay for its self. You can purchase single elements and build the design or buy theme section(s). Build your own art resource in house.
It's all what you as a shop can provide for your self and your client.
Best of luck
I hope I have answered some of your questions. believe me I spent 3 years researching my first DTG machine before buying it.
I myself have smart designer and love it If you call them they can do an interactive demo for you while you are online. It has a lot of really cool tools that make things super easy, plus there are alot of really cool functions that just add to your program to make some really cool effects. It has tools such as doing circle text, really cool halftone dropshadows, satin stitch text and a bunch of other cool stuff. I dealt with jason, I think his last name is rosenberg or something, but he was really helpful.
I dont know of anything like it that works with illustrator, I too use both illustrator and corel draw. But anyways if you go to digital art solutions website and call them, I am sure they would be more than willing to give you a demo online. Also if you decide you like it, tell them you would like to get the show price and it will save you alot of money.
Sunny brings up a great point. I know I use Illustrator, and Smart designer is focused on working seamlessly with Corel products. Im not saying you cant use Illustrator, but Smart Designer was made for Corel.
Very good point Sunny. I forgot
Thanks ladies! I have already had the online demo from Josh and am really impressed and thinking very seriously about buying this program. I just wanted to see if anyone in the forum used it and what they thought of it first. Also, I really prefer Illustrator so thought I'd see if there was any chance at a similar program to work with it. I really appreciate your input!
Just out of curiosity as I just purchased this fine piece of software myself, how long did it take to make a return on the investments you made in smartDESIGNER?
Oh, and I got 4 volumes for the price of two, plus a copy of CorelDRAW for half the price with a free upgrade to SD X4 when it releases. They will definitely bargain with you.
__________________
Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else.
Last edited by Trimere_Ink; July 23rd, 2008 at 07:02 AM.
We also have smart designer. We are still getting to know how to use all of it. it was well worth the money. We are using it for vinyl and for our DTG machine..
Just out of curiosity as I just purchased this fine piece of software myself, how long did it take to make a return on the investments you made in smartDESIGNER?
Oh, and I got 4 volumes for the price of two, plus a copy of CorelDRAW for half the price with a free upgrade to SD X4 when it releases. They will definitely bargain with you.
I think figuring out a return would be a little hard to do. I have pretty much made my money back with this program and then some if you are looking at have I sold enough product to cover the cost. Its really hard to figure out how fast you will get a return, as it basically depends on how aggressive you market your product to your customers.
Its a really great program for doing sports team apparel, restaurants, travel industry, churches. Its really up to you how fast you will make your money back, as it is only a tool that helps to make your product more efficiently, and it saves a ton of time with the templates and text features. Hope this helps some
Smart Designer software 
If you call them they can do an interactive demo for you while you are online. It has a lot of really cool tools that make things super easy, plus there are alot of really cool functions that just add to your program to make some really cool effects. It has tools such as doing circle text, really cool halftone dropshadows, satin stitch text and a bunch of other cool stuff. I dealt with jason, I think his last name is rosenberg or something, but he was really helpful.
Re: Smart Designer software 
