Illustrator |
What is Illustrator
Illustrator is a software that is used to make designs. These designs can be used for a logo or cut out on various machines to get an actual, real world, object. To make a cut on a machine, you need to make the part you want to cut red, and to engrave, you make the part black.
Keychain process
The first step in making a keychain to cut out on a laser cutter was to design the keychain in illustrator. A very important step is making sure you use the right colors, red cuts out sections and black engraves. If you forget that and mix them up you will end up with the laser only cutting the words and not cutting out the actual keychain or the hole.
Vinyl process
The first step to make a design to be cut out on a vinyl cutter is to make a textbox and write your name. Then give the name paths so it can be cut out.
The next step is to make sure that your design is the right size so it will fit on the vinyl cutter. This is a lot easier if you are cutting out something small, however larger designs will need to be edited to fit on the cutter.
The final steps to making a vinyl design is to send the design to the vinyl cutter and when it is done, you need to stick it to the object of your choice.
Summary
So far we have done a lot of designing with illustrator and, while we haven't gotten our projects back yet, there are still some things we have learned. I learned how to use the tools on illustrator as well as what tools to use for specific cuts or patterns. One of the most important things I learned was how to make sure your design is the right size so your cut will look right after it has been cut out. And one more thing I learned was how to get pictures from google into illustrator so they can be used in a design.