Vinyl Graphics

Trevex
Posts
14
Joined
12/29/2008
Location
Kaysville, UT US
Edited Date/Time 1/25/2012 7:01pm
I’m new to these forums so if this message is posted in the wrong spot, please let me know.

I need your opinions. We’ve been riding and racing for quite a while now and about two years ago, I noticed a significant problem with motocross graphics. If you want semi-custom graphics, you have to call a printer like Decal Works and describe your desired design and they design your graphics for you. You don’t get to actually see your design until you receive your graphics, which, in my opinion, is way too late.

I wrote a program using Adobe AIR (AIR is Adobe Flash on steroids) that lets you design your graphics online. You decide the colors of your number plate and the font and style of your numbers; you place all the “stickers” or graphics on your design; you can use your own images; you can create word art using the program’s Word Art feature.

I think it’s pretty cool, but my opinion really doesn’t count for much. Your opinion does.

I need to know what riders think both of this program specifically and the idea in general. Please take a look and let me know what you think. To be honest, unfiltered opinions are best. If you think the idea sucks, say, “Dang, that is one dumb idea.” You’re not going to offend anyone here. If you think it’s great, please, say so. If the program has weaknesses in design or execution, please identify those weaknesses so I can correct them.

Here’s our website. Just go to this address and click on “Get Moto Designer.”

http://www.trevexgraphics.com

Thanks in advance for opinions, folks.

P.S. Make a point of trying to right-click where it might make sense. I’ve put a lot of functionality in right-click menus.
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bogdan912
Posts
2722
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8/15/2006
Location
Estell Manor, NJ US
12/29/2008 6:44am
Problem is most dirtbike riders are NOT technically inclined, and would rather not try to figure out how to use it.

I like the idea though, for those who are into design would really like this feature.


On a side note, change the background on that page to something solid. It is very hard to read the write text..
Trevex
Posts
14
Joined
12/29/2008
Location
Kaysville, UT US
12/29/2008 6:52am
bogdan912 wrote:
Problem is most dirtbike riders are NOT technically inclined, and would rather not try to figure out how to use it. I like the idea though...
Problem is most dirtbike riders are NOT technically inclined, and would rather not try to figure out how to use it.

I like the idea though, for those who are into design would really like this feature.


On a side note, change the background on that page to something solid. It is very hard to read the write text..
Thanks for your thoughts, bogdan. I'd hate to paint all riders with such a broad brush, but I was thinking the same thing regarding the technical inclination of MX riders.
IntenseRider
Posts
320
Joined
12/4/2007
Location
Mc Donald, PA US
12/29/2008 6:55am
Seems like a really cool idea, but when I click on "Get Moto Designer", I get the pop up box with the system requirements and link to copyright information, but no link to download. I am using Firefox so I don't know if this may be related to my issue.

Also, I agree with the comment about the background and white font; it is very difficult to read the text.
Trevex
Posts
14
Joined
12/29/2008
Location
Kaysville, UT US
12/29/2008 7:02am Edited Date/Time 12/29/2008 7:07am
Seems like a really cool idea, but when I click on "Get Moto Designer", I get the pop up box with the system requirements and link...
Seems like a really cool idea, but when I click on "Get Moto Designer", I get the pop up box with the system requirements and link to copyright information, but no link to download. I am using Firefox so I don't know if this may be related to my issue.

Also, I agree with the comment about the background and white font; it is very difficult to read the text.
Nice catch, Intense. Looks like I have a problem with Firefox that introduced last night. I'll go correct it.

Regarding the white text - I have white text sitting on top of a solid dark-gray background and behind that, I have a pattern. The look is very similar to this site, except I have white text on dark gray instead of black text on white. Are you guys seeing something different?

The Shop

Trevex
Posts
14
Joined
12/29/2008
Location
Kaysville, UT US
12/29/2008 7:15am
Seems like a really cool idea, but when I click on "Get Moto Designer", I get the pop up box with the system requirements and link...
Seems like a really cool idea, but when I click on "Get Moto Designer", I get the pop up box with the system requirements and link to copyright information, but no link to download. I am using Firefox so I don't know if this may be related to my issue.

Also, I agree with the comment about the background and white font; it is very difficult to read the text.
OK, Intense, if you're interested, try it now. I put something in place until I get that problem corrected.
crowe176
Posts
6614
Joined
9/8/2006
Location
Spring Lake, MI US
12/29/2008 7:36am
This thing is bitchin.

I designed a number plate. How do you save it?
Trevex
Posts
14
Joined
12/29/2008
Location
Kaysville, UT US
12/29/2008 7:45am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 9:40pm
crowe176 wrote:
This thing is bitchin.

I designed a number plate. How do you save it?
Thanks for the plug, Crowe.

To close out the number plate area, click on that X in the top right corner of the design area, NOT the very top right corner X, which closes the program. You can then save your entire design. By the way, you've just given me some great feedback. Apparently, the idea of closing that design area by clicking on the X is not quite intuitive enough. I'll have to think of a better way to say "click here to close."

To save your design, there's a button along the top that says "Save Design" Click on it. Now, if you haven't created an account, you'll need to in order to save. Once you've saved it, you can retrieve it from any computer connected to the Internet.

I'm glad you like it, but man, I really would like some criticism, too. Anything I might be missing? Features you think it should have? Did you have a tough time figuring anything out?
IntenseRider
Posts
320
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12/4/2007
Location
Mc Donald, PA US
12/29/2008 7:46am
It looks like the "X" pattern that is repeating in the background is conflicting with the white text. It's fine where you have the text surrounded by borders (i.e.; company title, "Many companies...", "Headlines, etc.) but the section that starts "Until now, getting custom..." is difficult to read because the white font blends with the white repeating pattern.

BTW...tried the "Get Moto Designer" link again and I get the same pop-up box but still no download link.
crowe176
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6614
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Location
Spring Lake, MI US
12/29/2008 7:48am
crowe176 wrote:
This thing is bitchin.

I designed a number plate. How do you save it?
Trevex wrote:
Thanks for the plug, Crowe. To close out the number plate area, click on that X in the top right corner of the design area, NOT...
Thanks for the plug, Crowe.

To close out the number plate area, click on that X in the top right corner of the design area, NOT the very top right corner X, which closes the program. You can then save your entire design. By the way, you've just given me some great feedback. Apparently, the idea of closing that design area by clicking on the X is not quite intuitive enough. I'll have to think of a better way to say "click here to close."

To save your design, there's a button along the top that says "Save Design" Click on it. Now, if you haven't created an account, you'll need to in order to save. Once you've saved it, you can retrieve it from any computer connected to the Internet.

I'm glad you like it, but man, I really would like some criticism, too. Anything I might be missing? Features you think it should have? Did you have a tough time figuring anything out?
I just started messing with it. So far, my only complaint is not having enough design patterns, or not being able to figure out how to make my own design pattern.


Trevex
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14
Joined
12/29/2008
Location
Kaysville, UT US
12/29/2008 7:51am
It looks like the "X" pattern that is repeating in the background is conflicting with the white text. It's fine where you have the text surrounded...
It looks like the "X" pattern that is repeating in the background is conflicting with the white text. It's fine where you have the text surrounded by borders (i.e.; company title, "Many companies...", "Headlines, etc.) but the section that starts "Until now, getting custom..." is difficult to read because the white font blends with the white repeating pattern.

BTW...tried the "Get Moto Designer" link again and I get the same pop-up box but still no download link.
OK, so in your browser, my white text is spilling over the sides of the solid gray background. I'll take a look at that and get it fixed.

Firefox isn't always the greatest at caching, meaning, it hangs on to stuff it probably shouldn't, so you're probably looking at a cached page. Try clearing your cache. If that doesn't work, here's the direct link to it:

http://md.trevexgraphics.com/MotoDesigner/MotoDesigner.air

Click on this link or copy and paste this URL and then click on "Open."
PD441
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1281
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8/15/2006
Location
Tucson, AZ US
12/29/2008 7:56am
FYI - You can see an online proof with DeCal Works before you "receive your graphics".
Trevex
Posts
14
Joined
12/29/2008
Location
Kaysville, UT US
12/29/2008 7:56am
"I just started messing with it. So far, my only complaint is not having enough design patterns, or not being able to figure out how to make my own design pattern. "

Thanks a ton, crowe. That's good information.

We're working on both creating more design patterns and cleaning up the ones we have. It's just me and my son part-time at the moment so it's going to take a couple of months until we've got what I would consider to be enough. I'd like to have 10-15 for each bike we support.

We also had the idea of allowing users to create their own design patterns. I started the programming for it and concluded that for our first version, it was just too much work. It's DEFINITELY in the works, though.
Trevex
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14
Joined
12/29/2008
Location
Kaysville, UT US
12/29/2008 7:59am
PD441 wrote:
FYI - You can see an online proof with DeCal Works before you "receive your graphics".
That I didn't know and it's VERY good to know. I just remember calling Decal Works, ordering it, and then waiting to get my graphics.

Of all the major graphics companies, Decal Works seems to do the best at addressing this issue. They were our supplier until we bought our own printer.
crowe176
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6614
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9/8/2006
Location
Spring Lake, MI US
12/29/2008 7:59am
When I designed and finished my side # plate and went back to update my front number plate that I made and wanted to change, the number size was way off, and a few of my stickers were missing.
crowe176
Posts
6614
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9/8/2006
Location
Spring Lake, MI US
12/29/2008 8:04am
I got an error that it won't let me back out of:

Invalid Entry:
this entry would place your sticker off the screen.


It's not letting me do anything now.



crowe176
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6614
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Location
Spring Lake, MI US
12/29/2008 8:06am
Had to close it through task manager. Obviously it didn't save either of my designs.
Trevex
Posts
14
Joined
12/29/2008
Location
Kaysville, UT US
12/29/2008 8:08am
crowe176 wrote:
When I designed and finished my side # plate and went back to update my front number plate that I made and wanted to change, the...
When I designed and finished my side # plate and went back to update my front number plate that I made and wanted to change, the number size was way off, and a few of my stickers were missing.
When you close the design matte by clicking on the X, it'll ask you if you want to keep your design. Say yes to that and it'll store it in memory until you save.

I put that error message in there so that if you enter a number in the location box that would move the whole thing off the screen, I'd stop you. Sounds like you might want to close out of the design matte, NOT save, and then come back in.
Trevex
Posts
14
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12/29/2008
Location
Kaysville, UT US
12/29/2008 8:22am
Crowe, I'm going to go try to duplicate the problem you found. I'll let you know what I find. We still have a bit of programming to do so unfortunately, we might see a few of these issues pop up.
mx295
Posts
4286
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4/1/2008
Location
Quartz Hill, CA US
12/29/2008 9:01am
i can't believe nobody has said stfu noob!
WSR
Posts
1528
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
NC US
12/29/2008 9:10am
mx295 wrote:
i can't believe nobody has said stfu noob!
He showed up with content and something to offer.
Trevex
Posts
14
Joined
12/29/2008
Location
Kaysville, UT US
12/29/2008 9:20am
Thanks for taking a look, folks. You've provided some really good feedback.

We'll be working pretty hard over the next month or two getting more designs in place and cleaning up the program. We intend to go live some time in February.

You're welcome to continue playing with Moto Designer until then. As always, your thoughts, ideas, etc really have meaning to us so please, pass 'em along. You can either post here (this looks like a pretty good forum so I'm going to be hanging around) or you can E-mail us at contactus@trevexgraphics.com.
redrider111
Posts
1031
Joined
2/17/2008
Location
Oceanside, CA US
12/29/2008 9:50pm
wow.. this thing is bad ass! The only thing that I would like is more styles of numbers and designs for the actual backgrounds. how much would it cost to get front and side number plates?
akmx17
Posts
2707
Joined
3/5/2007
Location
Palmer, AK US
12/30/2008 3:54am
This thing is awesome, I have been using photoshop for this stuff and its such a hassle.
WSR
Posts
1528
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
NC US
12/30/2008 5:42am
Looks good so far, and easy to use.
I use a program called CorelDraw for a small sign business.
Two user friendly suggestions:
-a quick key button,"undo last action"
-an option for a selected item, "move to front" and "move to back", so you can choose layering.
jkkt
Posts
144
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Atlanta, GA US
12/30/2008 8:35pm
FYI #2

Big Air Graphics has had an online interactive numberplate design page since 2005, they were the first in the industry to offer the option of designing your graphics online.

http://bigairgraphics.com/numberplates.php

Most graphics companies, including Big Air ,will send you a proof of custom graphics before they are printed.




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