ILLUSTRATOR
Illustrator is an app that lets you customize all types of engravings. Using this app you can make any shape you desire and design it any way you want. There is a great variety of tools that you can use to design your engraving. You can etch in names, images, symbols, etc. With this app you can also make cut outs with your shape. You can choose what you want to be etched out and what you want to be completely cut out. With this you can make an item on a laser engraver and a vinyl cutter.
file for Laser Engraver
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File for Vinyl Cutter
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Step by Step for Laser Engraver
Step #1- create your object on illistrator and make sure it is no bigger than the white margin
Step #2- make sure that the outline of your object is red and has a .0001 thickness so the laser engraver cuts it out properly
Step #3- Now you want to make sure than everything inside your outline is going to be etched in properly. To do this make sure everything is outlined.
Step #4- Download your object onto your flash drive and transport your info to a computer that is connected to the laser engraver
Step #5- After selecting the material that you are going to cut out, measure its width and log it into the computer
Step #6- Once you have everything set up, click next. Open up the laser engraver and put your object where you want it to be cut.
Step #7- Now you should be on the "Viewer" tab in the next part. Here you want to click on the top right of you picture and click on pointer. From here click on the point where you have set up you object in the laser engraver
Step #8/final step- Now that everything is set up properly and the laser engraver is shut with you object inside, click the big green start button and your project with be done shortly
My final project
Step by Step for Vinyl Cutter
Step #1- Set up your vinyl on the machine so it can be properly cut out
Step #2- In the adobe illustrator app type whatever you want to be cut out and make sure that every thing is outlined
Step #3/final step- Make sure that the vinyl cutter is set up correctly and print. To apply what you printed you have to stick your cut out to tape. Now you can tape it to what ever you desire.
My final project
Summary of what I learned from Illustrator
Using Illustrator I now know how to properly cut anything I want using the laser engraver and the vinyl cutter. With the laser you can etch in and cut out. Using Illustrator you can determine what you want to be cut out and what you wanted to be etched in. Illustrator also has a great amount tools that allow you to create anything you desire when using the laser engraver. I found the vinyl cutter to be a lot easier. With the vinyl cutter all you had to do in the app what type whatever you wanted and make sure it was outlined. You could change the size and shape but as long as it was outlined you should be on your way. Other than this you had to properly set up your vinyl on the machine and you were good to go.