News
Online Monument Designer Version 2.0 Is Here!
We are constantly upgrading the Online Monument Designer to provide users with more features while also making it more user friendly, and since it is web-based anyone who is able to negotiate web sites and browse the web can operate our Online Designer.
As shown here there are 12 new user interface options:
1. New, faster export and email filters for producing color pictures. Color images are now more compact and generate quicker than ever. There are also faster export options vector drawings that are compatible with Gerber, MonuCad, Corel Draw, Illustrator, AutoCad, Flexi, Lxi, Signlab, WinPC, and many more.
2. All new Global Search feature allows search terms multiple words or portions of words yielding more results in each category.
3. Search results are shown for each category as a red number at the bottom right corner of each category icon. In this example a search for “Angels” resulted in 28 Classic Monuments featuring Angels, 1 Blank Monument featuring an angel sculpture, 154 Angel sandblast components for placement on monument designs, and 18 laser etching Angels.
4. All D-mart books are available for browsing or searching. These monuments are complete and ready for names and dates Components may be removed, and others may be added. The user’s view may be changed from 1 to 4 columns depending on the size and number desired for preview at one time.
5. Users now see numbers in the top right corner of each representative component icon to display the number of search result in each category.
6. Keyboard Shortcuts are easy to display and allow users access to tools such as grid and measurement tools when needed.
7. Select, Pan, and Zoom tools have been moved to the bottom of the screen for easy access at any time.
8. The enhanced Layer Management tool makes it easy to select a layer or component for placement or change. Layers may be easily moved in front of or behind on another by simply clicking and dragging.
9. Granite colors may be quickly chosen for each monument base and vase. Each color is available in three textures: polish, frost, and rock pitch. Prices adjust as sides and tops are changed from rock pitch to sawn or polished.
10. Alignment tools make it easy to align one row of text with another, align text within a panel, and align panels on a monument.
11. Undo and Redo buttons have been moved to make them easily accessible at any time during the layout process and are part of the default user interface.
12. Text options are easy to find, and they allow easy selection of lettering style, size, line spacing, letter spacing, and text effects such as Skew and Rotate.
Even with all the new features the default User Interface (shown below) remains very simple and easy to navigate.
We listen to our users, and add features they request, but we also found ways to present the new features in a user-friendly way through the use of dockers and flyout menus. This new user interface gives users a lot more “real estate” (or screen space) to work with. In each new release we have found ways to minimize tools and increase the working canvas, while making tools easy to reach.
When all dockers and flyouts are closed users are left with a simple, clean view of the monument. From here users can export color renderings or import the image into a contract for client approval as shown below.
Although the new features make it look like a fully functional application that would typically be downloaded or installed from a CD, it is still all cloud based, which means users can access their work anywhere at any time. Users do not have to be in front of a PC or CAD program in a back room. They may work from a showroom, outdoor display, cemetery or an office to create and customize monuments that can be sent to any CAD program as shown below. All of a user’s work is saved on the cloud and can be opened and edited at any time.
A lot of effort goes into ensuring that the app is easy for everyone to use regardless of the type of device or browser. Browsers are constantly changing and evolving. These changes require constant vigilance to ensure that we are compatible across the board. This app can be used on Macs and any PCs with Safari, Internet Explorer, Edge, Firefox, and Chrome.
The Online Catalog portion of the platform is compatible with phones and all devices as shown below, and the Designer itself is compatible with devices including iPads and tablets.
Click here to take advantage of your free 30-day trial. Please give us a call 800-736-7455 if you need any help. We can connect to your screen if you'd like, and give you a tour through the app as we build.