FLA Week 2: Vinyl Cut Sticker

The Instructions

Sticker Design - Create a Circle

First, the design of the sticker will be created in Inkscape. The first step is to make a circle with a diameter of 5 inches.

Click the Circle tool from the toolbar on the left side of the environment.

Then, go to your canvas and click and drag to create a circle.

The dimensions can be adjusted (Width and Height) in the toolbar directly above the canvas.

Sticker Design - Add Text

This step will begin the process of adding text to the design.

Click the Text tool from the toolbar on the left side of the environment.

Then, go to your canvas and click and drag to create a text box.

Use the “Ink Free” font.

Make the font 100 pt.

Sticker Design - Bend Text

Select the text box.

Click the Path option at the top right of the screen, then click Object to Path.

Then, click the the Path option at the top right of the screen, then click Path Effects.

On the Path Effects menu, click the “+” sign to add the Bend Effect.

Adjust the line that appears on your text book to curve the text around the circle.

Sticker Design - Add More Text

Add the rest of the design's text and bend it around the circle, as shown below.

Use the Text tool to add the rest of the text shown below.

Use the same font and size.

The “Grow” text should be bent around the bottom half of the circle using the Bend Effect.

Sticker Design - Add a Border

Add a gear border to the design to make it look like a flower.

Search “Gear Clip Art” on Google Images to find an image of a gear.

Import the image into Inkscape by going to File (top left corner of Inkscape), then Import, then Select Saved Image.

On the right side of Inkscape, click the Trace Bitmap menu.

For Detection Mode, select Autotrace.

Click “Apply.”

This will create a transparent version of the image and remove its background.

Delete the original image and resize the gear so it fits around the text.

Sticker Design - Fix the Border's Stroke and Fill Color

To prepare the design to be cut from vinyl, change the stroke and fill color and settings of the gear shape.

Change the following settings in the Stroke & Fill menus.

Stoke Style: 0.008 inch width

Stroke Paint: Red

Fill: None

Sticker Design - Save as a PNG

Save the design as a PNG so it can be imported into Silhouette Studio. This will enable you to cut the design on vinyl.

Import the image into Inkscape by going to File (top left corner of Inkscape), then Export.

Select PNG as the file type.

Fabrication - Import Design into Silhouette Studio

To prepare the design to be cut, import it into Silhouette Studio

Find the image in your computer.

You can simply drag-and-drop the image into Silhouette Studio.

Fabrication - Cut the Design on Vinyl

The vinyl will need to be placed on a cutting mat and loaded into the vinyl cutter to start the fabrication process.

Align the vinyl to the center of the cutting mat.

Load the mat into the vinyl cutter.

Make sure the settings for the vinyl cutter are set for the vinyl material.

You are now ready to start cutting your design!

Fabrication - Weed the Design from the Vinyl

The design will be weeded from the vinyl by peeling parts of the excess vinyl off to reveal the design.

Start peeling the vinyl from any part of the design.

Use a scissors to cut sections of it off while weeding.

This will prevent parts of the design accidentally coming off with the excess vinyl.

Fabrication - Add Transfer Tape and Transfer to Object of Choice

Putting the transfer tape over the vinyl cut design will help you transfer the design easily to an object of choice.

Put the transfer tape over the design.

Press on the transfer tape firmly to make sure there are no air bubbles.

Peel the transfer tape off. This should bring the design along with it.

Put the the design on your object and press down firmly to make sure there are no air bubbles.

Peel the transfer tape off again carefully. This should let the design stay on the object.