CADD program wizard

Bill Taylor

True Grumbler
Joined
Mar 17, 2002
Posts
89
Loc
Waterville,Maine 04901
We have the Wizard mat cutter. Can anyone tell me if they have used the CADD program? Why should we bother with it. How beneficial would it really be for a frame shop. If we have a special cut we can just do it by hand. It seems hard to figure out how to use the program according to my mat cutter. She says she can't get it to work. I said why bother. She said she just wants to know HOW to use it.
Any comments?
Thanks, Bill
 
Bill: for 99% of your needs the standard Wizard software will satisfy your needs. You'll know when you have to have a CAD design (i.e. corporate logo). If your mat cutter really wants to know how to use it, enroll her in a local community education course for CAD so she can get all the basic CAD software tools down pat and from there she can follow the Wizard directions and design her own mats and cut art.
 
I won't quibble about percentages ... Most of what we do can be satisfactorily performed thru the nonCadd functions of the basic Wizard. But, what sets us apart from other shops is our ability to use CADD in combination with normal Wizard design functions. Designing in Wizard, saving the design and then modifying the design in Cadd will produce some beautiful mats.
We've been able to scan designs and open them in CADD and then do some amazing things.
At first, CADD looks very difficult ... but it's not once you get thru a moderate education curve. Dani, the true Wizard's Wizard, has been of great value. She would be my first resource. In my opinion, any employee or owner should be encouraged to learn this new skill.
CADD learned through a Community College is probably overkill as the Wizard cutter only seems to like straight lines and 3 point arch's. Wizard has a few "contract" trainers that run one/two day training units on Wizard's CADD functions. I drove to Boston in '02 to attend such a training unit ... Wizard Tech service should be able to be specific. Hope this helps.
 
I have to agree with both the replies you have recived thus far ,even though they seem to diagree with each other. You can get plenty enough use from your Wizard without ever useing CAD.
However the single most unique feature the CMC has to offer is desiging your own mats. And this is done with CAD. I have attened one class thus far but unfortunealy I haven't had time to experimant and therefore I have forgotten most of what I learned.If there was one thing I wish I could do with my Wizard it is use CAD and make my OWN designs.Just think if there is a favorite mat design you specialize in at your shop you could convert it to CAD and store it and anyone in your shop could simply restore the design and cut away in a matter of minutes.You wouldn't even need to be there.I know I would love that .In fact I have tried to speak to Dani once to perfect just that process.
Useing the Wizaed for just the stored mats reminds me of that TV commerical that shows everyone useing only half of what they want. Why settle for just part of what it is capable of?
BUDDY
 
I think the Wizard organization is missing an opportunity by not writing detailed users manuals on both the basic wizard, but especially the CADD applications of the Wizard when used in conjunction with the CADD software. The manual that comes with the machine is very weak and almost superficial in addressing many software issues. My bookcase has four large volumes, published by Que, for Windows, Office, PageMaker and DateEase; full of detailed "how to" and examples. I suspect almost every Wizard user would purchase such a detailed users manual.
At some point, I suspect a skilled framer will team with an equally skilled writer and publish such a text ... then retire to Wilmington, North Carolina and live next door to my good friends Warren and Toni Tucker.
 
Wilmington, North Carolina sounds like a nice place to retire. Who want's to help me write a manual? I've been beating my head against a wall about this very subject.

-David-
 
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