Illustrator
Illustrator is a vector design software that is used to make art for the vinyl cutter and the laser using vectors, this way the artwork can be made any size without pixels or distortion.
Making my key-chain in Illustrator
Step 1: In Illustrator, I click file, create a new document
Step 2: I select Art & Illustration and make my width 3 inches, and height 2.5 inches
Step 3: I select the rectangle tool in the tool bar
Step 4: I change the rectangle to a rounded rectangle
Step 5: I make a large rounded rectangle on my file
Step 6: I now select the ellipse tool
Step 7: I click on my board and make the ellipse 0.25 inch by 0.25 inch
Step 8: I drag the circle to the top left corner of my rounded rectangle
Step 9: I make the lines of the circle and rounded rectangle red so the laser cuts through them
Step 10: I make the stroke 0.0001 pt for these red lines
Step 11: I type my name on the top of my keychain using the text tool
Step 12: I select a different font for my name in the font bar and make it 30 pt
Step 13: I found a Flash symbol image from google and selected it
Step 14: I put the symbol in the middle of my keychain
Step 15: I click the image trace button with my image selected
Step 16: I click expand afterwards and now it is a vector image
Step 17: I save my keychain as an illustrator file
Using the laser
Step 1: With my file open on the laptop, I select file, then print
Step 2: I select the laser for the printer and click print again
Step 3: I click the print button again
Step 4: I find a spot for my key-chain on the plastic that is in the laser
Step 5: Making sure the exhaust is on, I press ok and start laser cutting my key-chain.
Finished Keychain:
Applying a vinyl decal
Step 1: After cutting out the vinyl sticker on the vinyl cutter, I peel off the plastic around the name
Step 2: Next I put a layer of adhesive plastic over the name and the white excess paper
Step 3: Now I remove the white paper from the adhesive plastic and name
Step 4: I apply the decal to the white board that I want to put it on
Step 5: I peel off the adhesive plastic from the board leaving just the name decal on the board
Summary
Through making a key-chain and a decal on the laser cutter I learned how to create vector images that can be printed out on a laser and cut out on a vinyl cutter to make decals. I learned how to set these files up on both machines and print them out. I also learned how to use the cut out decal and actual make it a sticker and apply it to pore-less surfaces.