Illustrator
Illustrator is a 2-D software, used for designing, drawing, and creating images. Illustrator can be used for vinyl cutting and laser cutting.
Laser
Key Chain
- Open up Illustrator, press new, press art and illustration, and press postcard.
- Change from points to inches, change width to 3, change height to 2.5, and change orientation to landscape.
- Click on the shape tool, choose a shape for the key chain, and draw it on the page.
- Click on the text tool, and place it on the shape drawn in step 2.
- Type, and add an image found from google (make sure it is a vector image).
- Make the outline of the key chain red (vector cut) and make the line the thickness of 0.0001 line size, to signify cutting.
- Move this file from Illustrator to a flash drive.
- Put the flash drive into the computer that is hooked up to the laser.
- Open the file, and press print.
- Select the laser, and open ucp.
- Press the power button the computer, and turn on the exhaust.
- Open up the key chain file.
- Click on the funnel tool, and move the laser to where the material is going to be cut.
- Move the drawing onto the laser.
- Close the laser, and press the green play button.
Vinyl
Vinyl Name Cut
- Type name in Illustrator.
- Pick a font.
- Pick a material and place it in the vinyl cutter (give it slack).
- Select the vinyl cutter, and press Print.
- Cut out name from material.
- In a 45 degree angle peel of the excess material.
- Use the dental tool to remove other excess material.
- Peel off some of the adhesive tape and place the name on the tape.
- Cut the tape.
- Use a squeegee to make sure the letter stick to the tape.
- In a 45 degree angle peel the letter from backing onto the tape.
- Place the name on the board, and use a squeegee to make it stick to the board.
- In a 45 degree angle peel the tape off of the letters.
What I Learned
Throughout the introduction of Illustrator, I learned how to sketch objects and cut them out using a laser and a vinyl cutter. Although I struggled with remembering all of the steps to set up these prints, I figured out the steps by looking at the presentation and watching others. I learned how to take a file form Illustrator, put it on the lab computer, and cut and engrave a piece of plastic. I also learned how to take a file from Illustrator and print it using a vinyl cutter.