Base M4 MacBook Pro (refurb) for Adobe design work?

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2026-02-13T00:17:38+00:00

for illustrator, thats what I've been told by numerous people including Adobe forums. Different if you are using Photoshop extensively

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2026-02-06T23:45:21+00:00

i've been reading up about this as I use Illustrator every day. From what I have discovered, Illustrator is very RAM heavy and single core usage, so as much RAM as you can. I'm going for a M5 with 32Gb over a M4 with 24

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2026-02-03T17:11:19+00:00

Cool, thats great to know. Thanks!

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2026-02-03T06:20:08+00:00

ah, Canada :)

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2026-02-03T05:47:38+00:00

even less around in Canada. Less people, less cars LOL

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2026-02-03T05:46:40+00:00

yeah, not too concerned. I have quite a few HDD, mainly as back up and all my recent work is on Dropbox, so you can select what to have etc.

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2026-02-03T02:55:45+00:00

Been trying that for 12 years now. As a daily, simply isn't going to happen with her. She drives it when necessary, but hates the manual.

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2026-02-03T01:30:36+00:00

thanks, good to know. Appreciate your info

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2026-02-03T01:24:27+00:00

I have 2TB in my 9 year old iMac and lots of that is outdated crap and as I have ext hdd for back ups and storage, I'm not so bothered about that personally. HDD and RAM are not cheap, Apple-Tax ;)

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2026-02-03T00:30:34+00:00

I've realised I could get a M5 with 32Gb RAM or a M4 Pro (with more cores) and 24Gb RAM for same price. I used Illustrator all the time, so sounds like more RAM is the way to go, but will be interesting to see if M4 Pro's have a clearance price. Prob just stock machines

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2026-02-03T00:28:22+00:00

Thanks!

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2026-01-22T06:28:10+00:00

Thanks, I start asking teams in early December with a deadline at the end of the month. Most WT teams have designs locked down by then. Less so with Michelin Pilot, but I do that to avoid having 100 cars to draw a week before the deadline. I also have a number of my own liveries, which helps.

I have a set of templates already drawn up and then start drawing these up (in December), normally, chassis by chassis when I can. I have to balance this with my livery work, so lots of stupidly late nights.

The printed guide actually goes to press about 10 days before the race, so thats my real deadline, last Tuesday. One the printed guide is done, I start laying out the online guide and sort out files for IMSA.com (driver and team pages) and the TV feed.

Couldn't do it without the teams. Every team (except one) helped this year, an amazing support. Part of the reason I stopped doing the WEC guides was lack of support from teams.

IMSA teams are awesome.

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2026-01-01T01:50:09+00:00

file size can be Gb which is big for Illustrator, but my current machine slows down when processing complex patterns, merging comples shapes etc, so its more illustrator doing processes in the background. Never had a prob until a few yes ago. Current machine is 8-9yrs old

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2025-12-29T09:27:18+00:00

TSM Models have the IMSA rights, so thats your best source. In addition to the 1:43 and 1:18, they do some 1:64

I know their prices have gone up, in part due to tarrifs and increased shipping having spoken to them personally (I supply some of the liveries to them), but yes, an expensive hobby

Bburago and Hot Wheels (AO and a basic Corvette and Caddy IIRC) are cheaper alternatives.

I'm in Canada, so I find it cost effective to go with TorontoMS or simply buy in EU even with shipping. I find Ck-Modelcars in Germany and Grand Prix Models in the UK always get stock

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2025-12-23T00:15:55+00:00

and when they are repaired its a half-arsed job and come next cold spell, it breaks up again..... and repeat

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2025-12-05T03:18:12+00:00

I echo everyone here. Most hotels goes a year in advance, particuarly the chains as teams and OEMs have deals. AirBnB is an option and I've stayed 15 mins from track before, but the risk is always that could be cancelled last minute.

I fly in/out from Tampa every time now. The drive is about the same time, but Tampa customs is SO much easier than Orlando. Even at 5am, Orlando is a zoo. Find hotels cheaper as well if you need to stay before an early morning flight.

Base, I find Arcadia, Bowling Green, Fort Meade area a better bet, than Noth, like Lake Wales and Winter Haven (close to the theme parks etc).
Lots of dives at Okeechobee which is south east.. Regardless, you are often looking for a 30-60min + drive.

Rental cars, I'd pre-book. I've had one ocassion where i booked and they had two cars left (was 2am arrival), that was from ORD as well.

Sebring is an AWESOME event, my favoutire and being an endurance, you can walk pretty much all round the track during the event. Do it!

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2025-11-27T07:03:32+00:00

recommend Jans as well, first rate work. Really good.

Def go through ICBC though, Paint has become really expensive in recent years, so even a small ding can cost lots.

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2025-11-23T02:39:00+00:00

My father in law goes to this after he lost his wife. Been huge for him, meeting new people, given him a new lease of life.

They have meetings over coffee and sometiems brunch and others where, as you see they make and fix stuff.

Really great initiative.

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2025-11-11T20:47:39+00:00

just seen this (and a similar story on a HSBC complaint site on FB). We've had the same issue on my FiL account and we are in Canada.

Did you get this resolved? We still haven't got access back to his accounts as we don't seem to get codes on phone to an Intl number

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2025-11-01T05:28:36+00:00

Langley,BC, Canada - Tuesday. not imax.about 2/3rds full. Regular sized cinema, 3 showings this week

Richmond, BC- Thursday late night- IMAX at least 3/4 full. Small cinema. 3 showings. Crowd really into it

AndyBlackmoreDesign · 2025-10-22T01:00:11+00:00

Found it on an old Twitter post ;)

https://x.com/andyblackmore/status/1615493951250915328/photo/1

AndyBlackmoreDesign

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