We had a fabulous day with Jeff and Donna from IBEX Routing software. Besides catching up on family happenings and the grandkids, we also continued exploring the software. Jeff gave us a sneak peek at some awesome breakthrough features they were working on, which immediately prompted Peter and me to ask for extra things we could use in our future projects. Because we think from a creative perspective, we know what we want to achieve but have no clue how to get there. We would pose the question, ‘What if… ?’ and Jeff would answer, ‘Yes, we can do that!’ while we all fully understood that it would be a tough challenge. It was exciting and familiar because that is how we operate every day in our shop. The day flew by as we worked, but we also had time to enjoy some meals, fresh homemade apple pie, and good conversations together. We even took a long bike ride on my favourite trails to enjoy the scenery along the river. Tomorrow we will have a little more time to continue the adventure...
IBEX adventures
The Imagination Corporation is a small family company, and we love working with other small family companies that share the same values and understand what it takes to make our businesses successful. The relationships we form aren’t just a flash in the pan, done for a quick buck. Instead, we build them over time, on trust, for the long haul, with the intent that each interaction benefits everyone involved.
We acquired our first CNC router and software about twenty years ago. I spent the first months creating samples and learning the software, determined to do what few others could imagine. I created twenty-six unique letter samples and then took the time to photograph them carefully. I then wrote an article and submitted it to SignCraft Magazine, excited about what was now possible with a CNC router. Jeff Hartman from Colorado, one of the software developers, subscribed to the magazine (published in Florida). When he received his copy, he immediately picked up the phone to chat and asked if he could fly up to meet with me. During his visit, he asked me to show him how I used the software. We also talked about the things I was dreaming up for the future. Then he went home and added features to the program that let me (and everyone else) do much, much more. It was a win/win relationship as we worked together over the years to improve the software and make it user-friendly. Jeff often came to our workshops and helped me teach others. We met regularly at sign trade shows, and I would help him at workshops they hosted. Through all of our dealings, we became great friends! In the last couple of years, we have been working together as his family builds a brand-new CNC Routing software called IBEX. This evening, Jeff, Donna, and I went to the FOX and Hounds Pub (a project we built about fifteen years ago, which Jeff has visited with us many times) to have a fun evening and some great food. Tomorrow we’ll fire up the computers and dream up lots of future adventures. Stay tuned…
First computer
As I am going through my old CDs and transferring them to my computer, I am finding lots of old treasures.
In 1998, we purchased our first computer to create my concept drawings. The computer was a custom-built machine, the most powerful at the time. We also purchased a flatbed scanner, a printer, a digital drawing pad and the latest graphics programs. The salesperson told me the machine was insanely fast and that I most likely would never need anything more powerful. The package cost a whopping $20,000 in 1998 dollars. The first drawing I produced was this concept. The drawing worked, although I had so much to learn. This first iteration of this new tool was memorable because, in spite of this new machine’s supposed ‘incredible’ speed, there was a considerable lag between my pen stroke and the line appearing on the screen. The drawing pad of those days had no screen. I would draw a line, wait a second or two and then see the line appear on the screen. But this new tool was amazing, and I could see the potential. Within a year, my hotrod computer was retired to the office and replaced many times over the years with ever faster machines. Eventually, I switched from a Windows machine to a Mac, and the digital drawing pad became an iPad, which made things more compatible and eliminated the lag. This worked the best for me because I could draw more naturally, as I did on paper and watch my hand drawing instead of the computer screen. Although I still enjoy drawing, at least the original sketch on paper, I love the ease of creating concept art on the computer. Changes and additions are easy. The steps from drawing to presentation are now instant. I would never go back to ‘the good old days.’
