What is Illustrator
Illustrator is a software that is owned by the computer software company Adobe. Illustrator allows you to create drawings and images using laser cutters. In class we used Illustrator to make keychains, we used the software to draw images and lines so the laser cutter knows what to cut and how much to cut.
Using The Laser
First I started with the shape design. I made a hexagon, I changed the color to red and lowered the line to 0.0001" so the laser knows what to cut straight through.
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Next I wrote some text, the reason I chose hammer time is because I work with hammers. I made the text black because it lets the laser knows to gently engrave the text into the object.
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Then I chose a picture. I chose a hammer cause it fits with the text. I made the hammer black and smooth out the edges.
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Lastly I download the key chain to my flash drive and put it in the laptop connected to the laser cutter. I selected my key chain in the laptop and the laser cutter cut my key chain.
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Using the Vinyl
At the start the teacher cut out our vinyl and gave one to each person. The vinyl was a strip of blue plastic with our name cut into it.
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I then pulled the top layer of the vinyl off and what was left was my name.
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Next I grabbed some transfer tape and placed it on the vinyl. Then I transferred the tape to my notebook.
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What I Learned
In this Illustrator unit I learned how to use a new type of software, laser cutter and vinyl cutter. In illustrator I learned how to make different engravings for the laser cutter by using different colors and font sizes. For the vinyl cutter I learned how to use a new type of tape, transfer tape. Overall I really enjoyed using new tools to create different objects and ideas.