In the world of computer aided
design
(CAD), ease of operation is king, in which case
a coronation could be in the works for Glass Eye
2000. This highly versatile, comprehensive, and
easy-to-use CAD program, which was launched in June
2001, is the new-and-improved version of Dragonfly’s
original Glass Eye program that was released in
1996. |
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www.glasspatterns.com |
Conceived by Michael Wilk, talented and
innovative user interface expert, the program allowed Michael,
who is president and owner of Dragonfly Software, to facilitate
his own passion for glass crafting. This software gives
glass professionals and hobbyists alike a way to create
precise designs that are easier to view and edit than with
the use of traditional pencil-and-paper techniques. Even
those of us who find ourselves, shall we say, technologically
challenged can stretch our creative wings by using Glass
Eye 2000’s custom tools, which expand the ability to draw,
align, measure, resize, mirror, and rotate images, and to
produce any type or size pattern. (Large ones are automatically
tiled so they can be printed and taped together.) In fact,
users will find all of the essential features that are normally
offered in expensive, high-end CAD systems, but with glass
design in mind. Even a favorite photograph or picture can
be scanned in and transformed into a pattern for your next
glass project.
Glass Eye has thousands of happy customers in over forty
countries who praise this little helper to the hilt. Professional
glass artists, in particular, love the way they can create
designs, add color and glass type, and have something tangible
to show clients before starting on the project itself. Any
changes can be realized in a matter of hours instead of
days, thus substantially reducing the time it takes to go
from initial consultation to signed contract. The ease with
which project costs can be calculated and the ability to
e-mail the image to clients are two other choice morsels
that add to the program’s desirability.
The thing that most distinguishes this software from any
other CAD program in the world, however, is its piece labeling
system. This feature automatically numbers pattern pieces
and also makes it possible for glass artists and crafters
to apply unique numbers to patterns or to assign a color
code to each color. No matter how complex the pattern, Glass
Eye 2000 always finds the right location for the label.
These labels are visible on the screen and can be updated
automatically or manually while the design is in progress.
Those who teach the art of working with glass are also enthusiastic
about Glass Eye 2000, since it lets them show students what
their projects will eventually look like and allows them
to see what a big difference the selection of glass colors
and textures can make in whether their creations are a huge
success or a monumental failure. An added bonus is that
patterns can be altered by the instructor and adjusted to
each student’s level of expertise and confidence.
Mark Waterbury particularly liked the “Help/Suggest” feature,
which will not permit the drawing to be colored in if there
are any inherent problems that would make the pattern flawed.
Then it points out the aspects of the pattern that may not
work and offers suggestions as to how they can be corrected
before any time, energy, money, or frayed nerves have been
invested in trying to build a project that is doomed from
the start.
The twenty-lesson tutorial is greatly appreciated by users,
who are gently guided through virtually every product feature
in a way that’s user-friendly, well-written, and presented
in a “sitting right next to you” tone that patrons value.
Just about every conceivable problem and solution is presented
here.
Besides the accolades that the company garners for its help
in increasing productivity and for its endless design options,
customers are exceptionally pleased with the fact that Dragonfly
offers customer service with a personal touch and top-notch
technical support. Particularly impressive is the fact that
Michael Wilk himself is often involved in solving any problems
that might arise for Glass Eye 2000 customers.
If you’d like to take Glass Eye 2000 for a spin, you can
download it from the website at www.dfly.com for a free
30-day trial and purchase it only if you’re completely satisfied.
Even after the time period expires, you can use the pattern
library and resize functions free of charge. And you’ll
be glad to know that Dragonfly also provides free upgrades
as they become available for such things as new glass options,
additional patterns, a few bug fixes (although very few
problems have been found), and improved features.
Oh, and while you’re paying Dragonfly a visit, don’t forget
to check out the company’s extensive list of links to other
glass related websites.
~ Darlene Welch
© 2002 Glass Patterns Quarterly,
Inc.
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