Customer Reviews

Glass Eye 2000 Standard Edition

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought The Glass Eye a few years ago just as I was getting ready to retire from a position as Systems Manager for CADD equipment (Computer Aided Design and Drafting). As a Systems Manager, I had more than fifteen years of experience managing, drawing, and teaching CADD in two different companies. I had been designing and drawing stained glass layouts using a variety of drawing packages. I have been working with stained glass for almost thirty years and have been selling my work, seriously, for about six years.

With The Glass Eye, I was amazed at how quickly I could put a design together. I was able to easily put any type of picture (or piece of a picture) into a bitmap background, draw the lead/foil lines over it to create my stained glass drawing, then scale it to the size I wanted, and print out my patterns. This was a simple, quick way to create my own custom designs. I used The Glass Eye for about a year and a half, until Glass Eye 2000 became available.

As soon as I read about the new features, I was ready to purchase the Professional Version without even trying it. But, I downloaded the trial version. After just a few days, I ordered the Professional Version. I was happy with The Glass Eye. I am ecstatic with Glass Eye 2000.

The best new feature, in my opinion, is the glass library. With it, I can choose manufactures' colors (with catalog number) and paint my design with streakies, waterglass, textures, etc. I have actual glass samples which I purchased from the glass manufacturers and the library takes a lot of guesswork out of how the glass will actually look in the finished project. I also like the new text writing feature and the fact that the individual pieces of glass in my design are numbered for me. To be able to email a drawing (in .JPG or other format) to a customer is a definite plus. And to be able to pull a picture into the background in a format other than bitmap (such as .JPG or from my scanner or digital camera) saves a lot of manipulation of file types.

Glass Eye 2000 is a very professional, easy to use, product and is essential for anyone interested in doing serious design work. Because it is designed specifically for stained glass use, it is far superior to any other drawing software package. Whoever designed it really did their homework! (And I have had enough experience with other products to know what I'm talking about!!)

I teach beginner's stained glass in an adult education course and highly recommend Glass Eye 2000 (the Standard and Professional versions) to all of my students as a potential future tool for them to purchase.

From Sunny Sandock Stained Glass, Littleton, MA

As a designer for 12 years, I've used many software drawing programs (Photoshop, Illustrator, and more). All of them involve a rather difficult learning curve to become proficient in their use. Glass Eye 2000 is easy to install and so intuitive to use that I was able to begin a project within ten minutes after installation. Among many things, I find the "Properties" function is especially helpful regarding materials usage, construction cost and pricing. Thank you for a wonderful software package. Now, all I have to do is add my imagination. You've thought of everything else!

-- Katherine Bell of Bell Graphics in Jacksonville, Florida

I have the Professional Plus Edition and can't believe how much this software has helped in my design work. I find it very user friendly, an exceptionally fun and useful tool for creating designs in a short period of time with instant results thanks to all the different effects. It's exciting to watch my designs come alive when the glass colors and textures are added. I wonder how I ever got along without it. What used to take me days is now done in a few hours. One of the nicest features (of the many) is once my drawing is complete and I add the color and glass texture I am able to present to my client a very professional looking presentation. Another big big plus is that if any changes are to be made they are done in minutes. You truly do make a quality and useful program for us stained glass people. Keep up the good work.

P.S. If you are wondering about customer support, they're THE BEST and Very Prompt. They even ask for your input and suggestions as to what features you might like to have on their future upgrades. Incidentially, which most are Free!


Jerry Waier of Pinehaven Stained Glass in Two Rivers, Wisconsin

Glass Eye 2000 is an indispensable part of my business! As the owner of a studio that does only commissioned work, the "see before you buy" feature has enabled me to nearly double my annual sales. Also, time between initial customer consultation and a signed contract has been substantially reduced. With the use of my laptop and a digital projector, my customers and I can explore glass alternative selections almost instantly. Furthermore, the use of a projector enables the customer to see an accurate rendition of the final product in its intended location. This capability worked particularly well during the design stages of two church commissions currently in progress.

Glass Eye.
I commend you for not only a very fine, dare I say excellent product, but for outstanding technical support as well. This product is easy to use once mastered but the support is beyond compare. I LOVE this product. It's versatile and fun to use and comes with an amazing variety of projects to build that you can easily modify to suit your needs. I love it.
Christopher Meyer Norwich, Ct

Dragonfly customer service has been absolutely wonderful to work with. Their timely responses and personal one-on-one care has been a breath of fresh air. The Dragonfly company truly lives up to the pride in ownership that seems to be lost with most online companies. I have great respect and confidence in them and their products.
As a teacher in the Art of Stained Glass, Glass Eye has allowed me to open a world of original designs aimed at beginning students. The software is user friendly and my students can start creating thier own original patterns right away. It is so nice to be able to teach them HOW to design and then be able to produce the piece. The amazing array of glass samples is outstanding! My students just marvel at the details within the program and the ease of use. They cant' get enough!
Once again. Dragonfly has great customer service for a great user friendly product. A BIG high 5 for Dragonfly!

-- Cheryl Hall of Glasworx in Sanford, Maine

I've been doing the tutorial for a couple of hours now and I'm blown away. This is probably one of the most user-friendly, best-written and most well thought-out tutorials I've ever used. I appreciate the way that they write as though they're sitting here talking with me. I don't feel intimidated, and I don't feel insulted. That's pretty cool. I wish they could write the tutorials for some of the other popular graphic software. Whoever engineers the tutorial is obviously a real "person's person!" I can barely wait to get done with the tutorial so can start designing my own windows. Thus far, I believe that these folks have thought of every possible problem and solution. I appreciate the time and effort. I have no doubt that this program is going to greatly increase my profit margin. Thanks for such a great program.

-- Pam Biagi of SouthWind Creations in Kennesaw, Georgia

This has got to be one of the most fun programs I have ever used. It has opened up a world of talents I never knew I had.

I love this program! I have not picked up a pencil and paper to draw a design since I started using the The Glass Eye over a year ago. And, with the Glass Eye 2000's addition of glass samples, I can give my customers a much more realistic depiction of the design on a single sheet of paper. This program is so easy to use that I removed American Bevel's "Designer" from my computer after one day of using The Glass Eye. And, the personal customer service is outstanding. My one problem was addressed immediately, taken seriously, corrected, and replied to by the company owner himself.

-- Kathy Juron of Black Stump Stained Glass in Weems, Virginia

The software is wonderful, BUT...

I have (had) the premium edition ($1,200+). During a recent move, through no fault of my own, my dongle for the software got lost. They told me that I would have to pay another $1,200 to replace it. I'll do my designs in Illustrator from now on and will never do business with that company again.

In this era of secure digital registration, there is no reason to require a hardware security device.

To Glass Eye; you've just lost me as a customer, and as many other people I can advise against buying your software.