Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a computer application by Adobe that allows users to create all sorts of different designs that are compatible with many machines including vinyl cutters, and the UCP software used by the Universal Laser. The laser is able to engrave and cut out designs in many types of materials, including acrylic, which we used for our keychains. Vinyl cutters use the paths and anchors in the file to guide the machine as it cuts the vinyl material.
Laser Keychain
I didn't take a picture right after it finished engraving, and before I remembered to, it fell off of my lanyard at the soccer fields. I was sad... So I don't have a picture, but it looked cool. When I got home after school that day, I scraped black acrylic paint into the engraving, and it looked really good.
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Step by Step??
To use the laser, you have to open your file in Illustrator on the connected computer. Then you have to go to print under the "file" menu and hit print again. Open the UCP software and the design will show up over there like magic. The power and speed were already adjusted to the right setting, but you wanted to change it, you could by going to settings at the bottom, adjusting the sliders, and then hitting "okay". To line it up on the acrylic, you have to place your design, and then put the point of the laser at each corner and adjust the placement, looking between the computer and the laser, repeat until it is in a good spot, and on the material. Close the laser, press the big green play button and watch until it is done.
Vinyl
All we had to do to create a file for this was type our name, pick a font, adjust the size, and create the outlines.
Application
Step 1: Cut the design with the vinyl cutter.
Step 2: Trim the sheet to just include the decal. Step 3: Using a dental tool, weed it. Remove all of the vinyl that isn't a part of the design. Step 4: Place transfer tape over the weeded design. Using a squeegee, press the tape down to thoroughly adhere it to the vinyl. |
Overview
I got first hand experience applying a vinyl decal, and I determined that my planner cover is not a good material to apply vinyl to. I learned how to adjust the image trace in Illustrator for black and white, to get the lines as precise (or not) as I wanted. I learned how to use the laser, and how to adjust the placement of the design on the material.