Illustrator
Illustrator is a 2D design program that lets you build vector images. Vector images are images that are constructed with a series of anchors and pathways. This is better than images made with pixels because they are not blurry when they zoom in. Vector images can be zoomed in or out to any extent and it will keep the clearness of the image. You can then send your final product to a laser printers and it will print off your vector image using a laser engraver.
This was my final laser printed key chain. While it was still on Illustrator.
Illustrator Process
Laser Printing
I had to go to File-Print and change the printer to VLS3.50 than print it and go to the UCP software.
I went to settings and selected the correct material. The correct material was Plastic-Acrylic-Extruded Acrylic. This is so the laser knows what its going to cut into. I also entered the thickness of the material with a dial caliper.
Final Key Chain
Vinyl Name Decals
First, I typed my name and made it a vector image and made it 6 inches long so it would fit on our designer notebooks. We needed to find a nice bold font so it would show up and print nicely. I found a bold one that I liked and changed it to "impact" and it was ready to vinyl print.
Final Decal
After it is printed and my name is cut out, I had to peel away the outside vinyl of my name and the pieces inside my name that didn't belong like inside O's and A's. Now it is ready to start applying it onto my notebook. To do that I had to put the transfer tape onto the decal and press it in with anything that is like a credit card. Then, I peeled the tape off of the vinyl backing and placed it onto my notebook. I then pressed the decal into the notebook with the same credit card object and peel the tape away from the notebook. The decal is now completely on the designer notebook.
Summary
Illustrator is a 2D design program unlike Inventor that is a 3D design program. You make vector images through pictures and writing and can print them off on either a 2D laser printer or a vinyl cutter. These printing methods print vector images instead of pixel images because vector images stay clear no matter how much you zoom in or out. A vector image is a image that is made up of a series of anchors and pathways.
When I was making my key chain I had to make the lines red and a stroke of 0.001 in order for the laser printer to know to cut that line out. I also had to "trace image" in order to change the image from a pixel image into a vector image. I also had to turn the writing of my name into a vector image so the laser printer would have not trouble engraving the writing into my key chain.
When I was making my name decal with the vinyl cutter, I had to make the words 6 inches so it would fit nicely onto our designer notebooks. We also had to make sure that the font was nice and thick so it would print and show up nicely. I also learned how to apply a decal to something using the vinyl decal, transfer tape, and a credit card.
When I was making my key chain I had to make the lines red and a stroke of 0.001 in order for the laser printer to know to cut that line out. I also had to "trace image" in order to change the image from a pixel image into a vector image. I also had to turn the writing of my name into a vector image so the laser printer would have not trouble engraving the writing into my key chain.
When I was making my name decal with the vinyl cutter, I had to make the words 6 inches so it would fit nicely onto our designer notebooks. We also had to make sure that the font was nice and thick so it would print and show up nicely. I also learned how to apply a decal to something using the vinyl decal, transfer tape, and a credit card.