Vinyl Cutting
Influence Behind the Design
In the game Portal you are a test subject named Chell. She is told to run through test after test each being a puzzle where she uses a portal gun in order to solve puzzles, only to be lead to the next test chamber. The AI GLaDOS forces Chell to keep testing until the end, but promises Chell if she makes it through all the tests there will be cake at the end. In the game later you find written on the wall the cake is a lie scribbled, and found find out that there was never any cake and no end, and your character would keep on testing till she dies like the test subjects before her. This lead to the say "The cake is a lie" which signifies a promised where the person never intended to deliver.
In the game Portal you are a test subject named Chell. She is told to run through test after test each being a puzzle where she uses a portal gun in order to solve puzzles, only to be lead to the next test chamber. The AI GLaDOS forces Chell to keep testing until the end, but promises Chell if she makes it through all the tests there will be cake at the end. In the game later you find written on the wall the cake is a lie scribbled, and found find out that there was never any cake and no end, and your character would keep on testing till she dies like the test subjects before her. This lead to the say "The cake is a lie" which signifies a promised where the person never intended to deliver.
GLaDOS
Easter Egg Cake
Portal Logo
Creating the Design
I made the design using the vinyl cutter software. I started by setting the page the dimensions that I wanted it to be, which I got by measuring the front of the sweater. I then added two lines of text with the quote and aligned them, using the align tool. I then flipped the text since it is going to be a vinyl cut and heatpressed on a sweater. I then got an image from the internet and used the trace tool to turn it into an svg and added it to my design, then aligned it with the text. I then grouped all of it to be the align and move them properly to be cut, and sent the design the the machine to be cut.
I made the design using the vinyl cutter software. I started by setting the page the dimensions that I wanted it to be, which I got by measuring the front of the sweater. I then added two lines of text with the quote and aligned them, using the align tool. I then flipped the text since it is going to be a vinyl cut and heatpressed on a sweater. I then got an image from the internet and used the trace tool to turn it into an svg and added it to my design, then aligned it with the text. I then grouped all of it to be the align and move them properly to be cut, and sent the design the the machine to be cut.
Adding Text
Aligning Tool
Adding Image
Vinyl Cutting
I set up the vinyl in the machine, lined it up with the wheels, and set the appropriate force and speed. I then position the vinyl properly with the machine moving the x and y to give the mahcine adequate space to cut the vinyl. I then sent the print over to the machine, and let it cut. I then cut the finished vinyl cut off the role using an a knife and peeled off the excess surrounding vinyl to get the finished vinyl on the piece of plastic.
I set up the vinyl in the machine, lined it up with the wheels, and set the appropriate force and speed. I then position the vinyl properly with the machine moving the x and y to give the mahcine adequate space to cut the vinyl. I then sent the print over to the machine, and let it cut. I then cut the finished vinyl cut off the role using an a knife and peeled off the excess surrounding vinyl to get the finished vinyl on the piece of plastic.
Complete Vinyl Cut
Cutting off the Vinyl
Removing the Excess Vinyl
Using the Heatpress
I then turned on the heatpress, and waited a bit for it to turn on. I then proceeded to put my sweater with nothing on it into the heatpress just just to flatten it. I then put the plastic in the middle of my sweater, put the sweater in the heatpress, and closed the machine for 30 seconds. Then opened the machine, and removed the plastic to have the finished product.
I then turned on the heatpress, and waited a bit for it to turn on. I then proceeded to put my sweater with nothing on it into the heatpress just just to flatten it. I then put the plastic in the middle of my sweater, put the sweater in the heatpress, and closed the machine for 30 seconds. Then opened the machine, and removed the plastic to have the finished product.
Putting the Sweater in the Heatpress
Closing the Heatpress
Removing Plastic Sheet from Sweater
Wearing the Sweater
Photo of Me
Photo of Me
Photo of Me
Vinyl Cutting as a Form of Digital Fabrication
Vinyl cutting is a form of digital fabrication. There is not to much to write on the topic. In this case for us to vinyl cut we used a CAD software to design the SVG file with the text and image. There is no difference between this and Fusion 360 else then this makes STL files, and this instead makes SVG files. Then we use the software to turn the SVG file into machine code that the vinyl cutter will understand, just like Prusa Slice turns and STL into Gcode. So in conclusion Vinyl Cutting is clearly a form of Digital Fabrication. There is not much of an argument here I don't know how you can argue otherwise.
Vinyl cutting is a form of digital fabrication. There is not to much to write on the topic. In this case for us to vinyl cut we used a CAD software to design the SVG file with the text and image. There is no difference between this and Fusion 360 else then this makes STL files, and this instead makes SVG files. Then we use the software to turn the SVG file into machine code that the vinyl cutter will understand, just like Prusa Slice turns and STL into Gcode. So in conclusion Vinyl Cutting is clearly a form of Digital Fabrication. There is not much of an argument here I don't know how you can argue otherwise.