Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is the main tool we will use to create vector graphics in the ToMorrow Lab

If you need access to Adobe products contact Mr. Mansfield

Adobe Illustrator is a vector based art program. Vector based art uses math to make shapes rather than pixels. Not only does using math to create shapes make it easy change the size and shape without distortion, but it makes it much easier to calculate paths for machines to follow.

iPad

You can access the iPad app via the Adobe Creative Cloud app. You must have a school adobe account to use Illustrator. Once you have logged into Adobe Creative Cloud app and downloaded Illustrator you should complete the 5 short tutorials.

Computer

You can also access Illustrator on a PC or Mac. The software needs to be installed, if in the lab it may already be installed, if not speak to Mr. Mansfield. If you have access to Illustrator on the iPad and want to use Illustrator at home on your own computer you can install it.

Design for the laser

Once you have completed the tutorials this should make sense. Remember we are leveraging the math of vector cuts to give us paths and coordinates. Any process where you want the laser to follow path, a cut or engraving, will be done using the stroke. Both lasers only recognize a stroke intended to be used as path based on its stroke weight. Specifically laser cutter software is looking for a hairline stroke weight of 0.001-0.028 as a way to know the intent of the line is to be followed. Any other stroke weight, or Fill will be regarded as Raster(pixel based) art and will be etched(each pixel will be burned to create an image). Additionally stroke color is used to separate cuts from engravings, however you could use varied stroke weights, but it would get confusing.

Epilog Design Parameters

Cut- any color stroke weight of 0.001

Engrave-any color stroke weight of 0.001

Etch- any other stroke, fill, image (there are more advanced ways to handle some etching)

You will set how strong the laser is in the Epilog software, which will determine if it cuts through or not

United Laser System Parameters

Cut- Stroke weight of 0.001 AND ff0000(pure RGB red)

Engrave- Stroke weight of 0.001 AND 0000ff(pure RGB blue)

Etch- any other stroke, fill, image (there are more advanced ways to handle some etching)