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ks1986
ks1986
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Illustrator CS6 and Mimaki Finecut

May 29, 2012 2:50 AM

Tags: #illustrator #subscription #mimaki #finecut

Hi there,

 

We started using the illustrator CS5 Version as a subscription and used Mimaki Finecut as a plugin for vynil cutting. When CS6 was published we did the switch to the new version. Now the Finecut plugin is not working anymore, Mimaki says they will not release a Finecut plugin for CS6 before December 2012. We asked the (german) support hotline how long can stay with CS5 and they told us that it will not be supported after June/July sometimes.

 

We are totally stuck now, Mimaki has no plugin and Adobe stops us from using CS5 Version until the new Finecut version is out. The combination was perfect, is there anybody else with this problem? What Plugin do you use for vynil cuttings?

 

SimpleCut is not an option, it only supports importing EPS from Illustrator 8

 

Is there any way to use CS5 as a subscription for a longer period of time? I think this will continue to happen with the next Upgrades as well.

4398 Views   11 Replies   Latest reply: ks1986, May 30, 2012 1:33 AM
 
Replies
  • Wade_Zimmerman
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    1. Wade_Zimmerman,
    May 29, 2012 3:45 AM   in reply to ks1986
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    That probably will not be the case in the future the reason is that the plug in probably has to be 64 bit. I do not know if you can run CS 6 from the Cloud in 32 bit environment but why don't you explore that possibility.

     

    Perhaps the plug in works if you run CS 6 as 32 bit.

     

    Now i am only guessing that it might work so if it doesn't, it is only a thought.

     
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  • ks1986
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    2. ks1986,
    May 29, 2012 3:52 AM   in reply to Wade_Zimmerman
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    Wade, thanks for your answer. CS6 already runs as 32-bit, the problem is that Illustrator just says that the plugin files could not be loaded. God knows why this is the case. Is there any way to have a compatibility mode setting for plugins or something like that?

     

    Do you (or anybody else) know how long we can stay on CS5 in the subscription model until we are forced to upgrade?

     
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  • Wade_Zimmerman
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    3. Wade_Zimmerman,
    May 29, 2012 3:58 AM   in reply to ks1986
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    Sorry to hear that, I do not know of how long you can run it.

     

    BTW I found a plug that says it works with Illustrator CS 6 as 32 bit only

     

    do not know if it will work for your cutter

     

    http://www.signcutpro.com/

     
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  • Wade_Zimmerman
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    4. Wade_Zimmerman,
    May 29, 2012 4:01 AM   in reply to Wade_Zimmerman
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    What Platform are you using there is another one called Summa and I do not know if magisign supports CS 6/

     
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  • ks1986
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    5. ks1986,
    May 29, 2012 4:05 AM   in reply to Wade_Zimmerman
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    Thanks for the suggestion, we tried to run the trial of that signcutpro plugin - it did not even install at all. So I don't know if I really want to go that if it crashes before I even saw a screen

    Maybe an Adobe Staff Member can tell me how long we can stay on the older versions in the subscription plans?

    I think there might be others that have to use plugins that are not updated fast enough for this lifecycle. I don't want to switch to Corel Draw just because of this plugin.

     

    Edit: We are using a Windows 7 machine on the cutter

     
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  • Wade_Zimmerman
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    6. Wade_Zimmerman,
    May 29, 2012 4:12 AM   in reply to ks1986
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    Did you contact Customer Support?

     
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  • ks1986
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    7. ks1986,
    May 29, 2012 4:21 AM   in reply to Wade_Zimmerman
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    I did, but the german one, they told me to forward it and come back to me. But this is 2 weeks ago now. Maybe i should send another inquiry directly to the US based one.

    Thanks so fare Wade, I hope the customer support can help me out of this somehow.

     
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  • John Hawkinson
    5,516 posts
    Jun 25, 2009
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    8. John Hawkinson,
    May 29, 2012 4:46 AM   in reply to Wade_Zimmerman
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    It's certainly going to be worse with CS6's rewrites, but in general, expecting plugins to work with new versions is a crapshoot.

    Always test your plugins before you commit to an upgrade, and always check with the vendor.

     

    ks1986, I think almost all the experienced people here do not use the subscription, so we have little direct advice for you on how to handle rolling back the subscription, if at all.

     

    I can't tell: (1) did you install CS6 and you no longer have access to CS5, so you have an actual problem right now?

     

    Or (2) are you afraid that CS5 will stop working, but it works fine now, so you have a theoretical problem?

     

    I have heard that you will be able to use prior installed versions for "up to a year" under the subscription and creative cloud programs.

    I don't think one year is enough and I personally haven't heard what the enforcement mechanism is going to be, but I definitely encourage you to push Adobe on this.

     

    While I suspect you are stuck in their customer service system for all the wrong reasons, I also think they have not completely figured this stuff out. As a result, it's important for you to push them for an answer and make sure to influence them in choosing the right future direction. Help them set policies that will help you and other users in your situation -- before it is too late.

     
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  • ks1986
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    9. ks1986,
    May 29, 2012 5:18 AM   in reply to John Hawkinson
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    John, this totally nails it - i am indeed stuck in their customer service system. I tried again, nobody can tell me anything about this. Who am I supposed to ask for that?

     

    I still have access to CS5, but I am afraid that one day my worker just tells me that Illustrator stopped working and he can not produce the customers orders anymore - if this happens I'm totally screwed.

     

    I know that I can not expect that the plugins will just work, also I know that I can not expect the plugin developer to have the plugin ready when the Upgrade comes out.

    But what I need to get along with this situation is enough time to stay on my current Version, without any forced upgrade.

     

    Even worse, what happens if a plugin works just fine but comes to an end of live? What happens if Mimaki stops doing updates to finecut?

    I could still use it for like 10 years, but the subscription forces me to go for something else. There aren't that much cutting plugins out there - most of them are just crap or expensive as hell.

     

    I begin to wonder if this subscription service was really a good idea for us. But it's a good thing for a startup - you never know where it leads, and it can shrink the initial costs.

     

    If all of this leads now where i'll have to buy a boxed version, hope this clears up very soon.

     
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  • John Hawkinson
    5,516 posts
    Jun 25, 2009
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    10. John Hawkinson,
    May 29, 2012 5:38 AM   in reply to ks1986
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    I think these are unanswered questions with the subscription service, and you may be very unlikely to get a straight answer out of Adobe right now. I am speculating, but I think they do not know the answer themselves.

     

    I am not sure what to suggest, other than to go back to customer service and to escalate and call them back on a daily basis.

     

    Obviously the boxed version is one answer. One would expect CS5 to drop in price substantially, though that doesn't seem to have happened yet.

     
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  • ks1986
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    11. ks1986,
    May 30, 2012 1:33 AM   in reply to John Hawkinson
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    Now, finally I got an answer from Adobe directly. I tried the chat, phone support, searched the FAQ and asked here - now guess where I got my answer ... Through flaming their facebook wall -.- Here is what they said:

     

    Me:

    So, since there is no way to get in contact with you guys - I thought I'd just try it here.  Is anybody of you capable of telling me how long I got time to upgrade a subscription version of illustrator. Currently running CS5 - when must I upgrade. My plugins don't work with CS6 until December. And don't tell me to ask your indian support - nobody of them knows a *****

     

    Adobe:

    You can talk with a chat agent here: http://adobe.ly/yxj0t6

    You can cancel your CS5 subscription and start CS6 whenever you'd like


    So, this sounds to me like they will not force one to upgrade - as long as I keep my CS5 subscription I should be able to keep that until december. Whew, what a long way for a simple answer.

     

    Conversation on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Adobe/posts/10150858662788871?notif_t=feed_com ment

     
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