Illustrator
Illustrator is a software that lets you make 2D designs and then cut or engrave them using machines like the laser cutter, and vinyl cutter. In illustrator you can add text, shapes, images and more.
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Laser Cutter
Step by Step
Adding Images
First you copy and paste whatever image you want into illustrator. The image you chose has to be black and white and it cannot have a transparent background.
That turns the image into a vector and cuts out the white background.
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Next you click image trace at the top of the page. Then click on the button with three dots and three lines next to image trace. After that you click on advanced and ignore white.
Finally if you want the image to be cut out you change the fill color to none and the border color to red. Then change the border thickness to 0.0001. If you want it to be engraved change the border and fill color to black.
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Adding Text
First you click on the T icon on the left. This adds a text box.
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Then you change you change your text, text size and font.
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Finally you click on create outlines which turns the text into a vector. If you want the text to be engraved you leave it black. If you want it to be cut out you change the fill color to none and change the border to red with 0.0001 thickness.
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Printing
Key chain
Vinyl Cutter
First you use Illustrator to make your design and then open the file on the vinyl cutter.
Then you put transfer tape onto the back of your decal and peel off the back. |
Then you put a sheet of vinyl into the vinyl cutter and it will cut out the decal.
Finally you stick the decal onto whatever you want and peel off the transfer tape.
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After that you take out all of the vinyl cutout pieces you don't want in your decal.
Then you're done. |
What I Learned
During these projects I learned that the laser cutter uses colors to know what to cut and engrave, and how to line the laser up with what you are trying to print on. It was also interesting to see that the laser controls its power depending on the material thickness and type. I also learned that you can use transfer tape to put on a decal. I previously thought that you had to stick them onto things like stickers.