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Canva is a free-to-use online graphic design tool. Use it to create social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos and more.

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KissPNG - largest archive of PNG images. free unlimited download!

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KissPNG - largest archive of PNG images. free unlimited download!

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CleanPNG - HD png images and illustrations. Free unlimited download. - CleanPNG / KissPNG

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Discover transparent background images and illustrations. Best quality, free unlimited download.

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CutStudio - Tiling Large Graphics - YouTube

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CutStudio - Tiling Large Graphics - YouTube

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We provide source tarballs for Linux (binary packages are offered by the distributor) as well as flatpak and snap packages and a ppa for Ubuntu, packages for Windows (32bit and 64bit, portable app, fully self-contained installer, binary without installation), and Mac OS X (DMG, also MacPorts, Homebrew provided by community members).

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How to Trace an Image Using Inkscape: 14 Steps (with Pictures)

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How to Trace an Image Using Inkscape: 14 Steps (with Pictures)

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If you want to convert a raster (bitmap) to a vector in Inkscape, you'll need to trace the image. Fortunately, Inkscape comes with an automatic tracing tool that requires neither a steady hand nor a giant hunk of time. If you need more...

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Free printable Silhouettes of cartoons, nature, animals, Bible and many more.

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Applying Vinyl Stickers | DCS Sticker School

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Applying Vinyl Stickers | DCS Sticker School

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Please enjoy these handy Ikea-style instructions on how to properly apply your new vinyl die-cut stickers. Need a portable version? Download the PDF.

If you have further questions, Tweet us with #AskDCS or email info@diecutstickers.com and we'll do our best to sort you out.

Good luck!

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Applying Vinyl Stickers | DCS Sticker School

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Please enjoy these handy Ikea-style instructions on how to properly apply your new vinyl die-cut stickers. Need a portable version? Download the PDF. If you have further questions, Tweet us with #AskDCS or email info@diecutstickers.com and we'll do our best to sort you out. Good luck!

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Free Vectors, Logos, Icons and Photos Downloads

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Free Vectors, Logos, Icons and Photos Downloads

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Free Vectors, Logos, Icons and Photos Downloads

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Free Vectors, Logos, Icons and Photos Downloads

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Freevector.co - Free vector art, vector logos, icons, vector graphics, illustrator brushes, Vector Wallpaper Backgrounds, Silhouettes...

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Making the web more beautiful, fast, and open through great typography

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How to import DXF files into Inkscape/Easel perfectly to scale - Easel / Accessibility - Inventables Community Forum

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How to import DXF files into Inkscape/Easel perfectly to scale - Easel / Accessibility - Inventables Community Forum

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I figured out the process how to import a .DXF file perfectly to scale into inkscape, then into Easel. You must start with a .DXF file with closed polylines or you will only be able to cut on path, not fill/pocket, or cut inside or out. Joining them in Inkscape will NOT work either.

With a good .DXF file, OPEN, do NOT import, the file in Inkscape. Set scale manually to 25.4 (just so happens to be how many millimeters in an inch ). Check the scale using the measuring tool.

Draw a rectangle around your geometry at a known size. Write down that size.
Import into Easel after saving as a .SVG file (I use optimized)!

Scale in easel using the number you wrote down.

Edit: you may have to mess with the scale( 25.4 pictured) to get it correct in Inkscape. But once you have it correct in Inkscape, it will be correct when you import it into easel.

PERFECTLY TO SCALE!!! And made of one line shapes. When you trace an image of lines, it gives you a trace of the inside of the line and the outside of the line, and the center path of the line.

Hope this helps people with their design work!!!

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How to import DXF files into Inkscape/Easel perfectly to scale

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I figured out the process how to import a .DXF file perfectly to scale into inkscape, then into Easel. You must start with a .DXF file with closed polylines or you will only be able to cut on path, not fill/pocket, or cut inside or out. Joining them in Inkscape will NOT work either.

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Penn State University Park Bookstore - Penn State Nittany Lions Color Shock School Name Decal

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Penn State University Park Bookstore - Penn State Nittany Lions Color Shock School Name Decal

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Penn State Nittany Lions Color Shock School Name Decal

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Your information will not be stored for future visits. You'll have the option to create an account later on.

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WinCraft Penn State Nittany Lions 3" x 10" Arch Perfect Cut Decal

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WinCraft Penn State Nittany Lions 3" x 10" Arch Perfect Cut Decal

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WinCraft Penn State Nittany Lions 3" x 10" Arch Perfect Cut Decal

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Virginia Tech Hokies Decal – Campus Emporium

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Virginia Tech Hokies Decal – Campus Emporium

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This Virginia Tech Hokies decal is weather and fade resistant.- Measures approximately 6.5" x 2.25"- Outside window application - Made in the USA!

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Vinyl Cut Lettering and Graphics - How They Are Made

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Vinyl Cut Lettering and Graphics - How They Are Made

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Vinyl Cut Lettering and Graphics - How They Are Made

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We use premium branded vinyl from reputable manufacturers to make sure our products don't fail. Our vinyl cut stickers are rated 7+ years outdoors under normal exposure.

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Applying Vinyl to a Tumbler - Leap of Faith Crafting

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Applying Vinyl to a Tumbler - Leap of Faith Crafting

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

Yetis and Ozark Tumblers are all the rage these days! Ozark Tumblers from Amazon or Walmart are a third of the price and work just as well. They keep ice and water cold for up to 30 hours! They are amazing, it is the only cup I use anymore, for hot and cold drinks! So along with being amazing tumblers, they are very fun to decorate. You can do almost anything and jazz them up to suit your personality. So today I thought I'd share how to go about applying vinyl to a tumbler.

Applying Vinyl to a Tumbler Tutorial

This process will work for either Ozark Stainless Steel mugs or Yetis.

You can purchase Ozark tumblers by clicking here!! Or for 20 oz click here and for 30 oz tumblers click here!

First thing you need is a vinyl decal. I cut mine out with my favorite tool, my Cricut Explore Air™. Weed the vinyl and apply transfer paper over it. (For more detailed information on this part see my post here.)

Next clean the mug with a alcohol. I just use a cotton pad and wipe it around the whole thing to get all oils off so vinyl can seal better.

Then with the paper backing still on position the decal on the tumbler where you want it. Then use the Hinge method. Place a strip of blue painter's tape down the center to secure it in place.

Peel off one half of the transfer paper and cut off the backing while holding the sticky transfer paper.

Pull the transfer paper so it's straight and lay it gently down on the mug. Rub on the decal so it adheres. Then remove blue tape.

Now that it is secure in it's position, peel off the other side of the paper backing. Pull a little bit so it's taught and gently lay it down while smoothly it out with your fingers.

After rubbing down the vinyl you can slowly start peeling off the transfer tape.

There you have it! Easy peasy! Let the vinyl cure on the mug for 48 hours to make sure it sticks really well. I also will run an embossing heat gun back and forth hovering my vinyl and then press down really hard with my finger to make sure it adheres really well. Just be careful, not to touch it when it's too hot! Also, anything with vinyl should be hand washed. No dishwashers!

Here are a few of the other ones I have made. Easy and fun! These make great gifts, especially for those hard to buy for people! A Cricut machine can make so many personalized presents. If you want to check out my ultimate guide for Cricut ideas (think gifts, home decor, easy projects, etc) click here!

If you'd like to learn how to seal your tumblers with epoxy, check out my tutorial here!

There are even more ways to decorate stainless steel mugs! Click on each image below to check out my tutorial for painting them different ways!

Thanks for stopping by!! What would you decorate a mug with??

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Applying Vinyl to a Tumbler - Leap of Faith Crafting

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. Yetis and Ozark Tumblers are all the rage these days! Ozark Tumblers from Amazon or Walmart are a third of the price and work just as well.

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Thanks to a very generous Mr.Boyer, we have a sample of every color in ORCAL 631. Ask and you can see it.

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The Perfect Setup: File Preparation For Print/Cut Production

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The Perfect Setup: File Preparation For Print/Cut Production

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As any chef will tell you, the best recipes start with the right ingredients. And in the world of print/cut, the best graphics begin with a great piece of art.

The right artwork can be anything from a simple logo to a complex combination of photography and type. It can be 1/2" tall or 30 feet wide. It should have personality, color, detail, and most important, a definitive shape that takes advantage of the impact of print/cut production.

Turning your art into a print/cut graphic is simple in theory: you add a spot-color Cutting Path that tells the RIP or device driver exactly where you want your final cut lines. To ensure success, however, is a bit more complicated. There are specific guidelines you need to follow in order to make sure that the driver recognizes your cut path and accurately processes it. Read on for details on how to make sure your great piece of art delivers a great print/cut graphic.

What Programs to Use

For best results, most print/cut pros recommend vector-based graphics programs such as Adobe® Illustrator® and CorelDraw®. The biggest advantage of vector artwork is that it is resolution independent, so graphics can be reprinted at virtually any size. You may think you're only doing a t-shirt design, but the client may love it so much they want to put it on their truck next month.

The Basic Setup of a Print/Cut File

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

1. Create your original artwork. It may be a vector image, or a combination of vector and bit-mapped elements. (Fig. 1) If there are bit-mapped images included in the file, be sure to build the file at the proper size and resolution for your final desired output (Guidelines discussed later in this article).

2. Define the final cutting path. Create a path that defines the exact shape where you want all cuts to occur, including the perimeter contour cut and any cutouts within the graphic. (Fig. 2)

3. Apply a Spot Color to the path. This is the most important step. In order for the RIP software to recognize this as a cutting path and not a shape to be printed, you need to create a Spot Color swatch called "CutContour" (Fig. 3) and apply it to your cutting path (Instructions for this process follow). Once you've applied the "CutContour" spot color to your image, the cut path line will appear as a colored line on your screen. Don't worry. When you send the file to a Roland printer/cutter, the RIP will replace this color with "marching ants" along the cut path, and it will not appear on the print.

4. Add a bleed to your image. To avoid white hairlines and ensure a clean edge to your final print/cut graphic, you may add a bleed to the outside edges of your artwork. (Fig. 4) Anything from a 1 pt - 3 pt line works very well.

5. Save your artwork. When finished, save as a .ps, .eps, or .prn file.

Creating a CutContour Swatch in CorelDraw®

1. Click on Tools and select Palette Editor.

2. From the drop down menu select Custom Spot Color.

3. To create a new Spot Color, click on Add Color.

4. In the Select Color window, click on Mixers.

5. Select any color you want from the color wheel. Click on Add to Palette.

6. Change the name of the Selected Palette Color to CutContour, click on OK.
For the RIP to recognize the Cutting Path, the name must be CutContour, spelled exactly as it appears.

7. To apply the CutContour spot color to your artwork, click on the Outline Pen.

8. Select the CutContour spot color. Width should be set to Hairline.

Creating a CutContour Swatch in Illustrator®

1. Click on Window, select Show Swatches. Click right arrow, select New Swatch.

2. The Swatch name must be CutContour. The Color type must be Spot Color.

3. The color values for the swatch may be set to any you choose. From the Stroke tab, use the following settings: Weight .25; Miter limit 1; Transparency: Normal Opacity at 100%.

Color Mode

It's always best to work on digital print projects in the RGB color mode, rather than CMYK. Your digital printer is capable of printing a much larger gamut of colors than that available in the CMYK mode, so creating your file in RGB and leaving it in that color space allows you to take full advantage of the color gamut of the printer. Working in RGB also reduces overall file size by up to 25% over CMYK. Do not create images in LAB or Indexed Color. Convert any images in these modes to RGB before beginning production.

Working with a Photoshop File

In addition to working with photos, many artists use Adobe® Photoshop® to add photorealistic "airbrushing" and 3D effects to images originally created as vector art. But be careful. Once the file is brought into Photoshop, you are limiting your image resolution. Be sure to make the file as large as you think you may ever need it. This can mean a great looking image, but the price tag can be a huge graphic file. Once you have worked on the image in Photoshop, you'll need to bring it back into a vector program to add your Cutting Path.

You may receive a customer's logo as a flat jpeg or tiff file and need to create your own cutting path. While you can always open the file in your vector-based program and create the path by hand, you may want to try the following shortcut:

1. Open the file in Photoshop.

2. Use the Magic Wand or Magnetic Lasso Tool to select all of the negative space around the logo.

3. Choose Select, Inverse. Now your selection represents the outer perimeter of the logo itself.

4. In the Paths palette, choose Make Work Path. This creates a path that follows the contours of your logo. Save this path.

5. Use the selection tool to copy the path to the clipboard.

6. With the tool still on the clipboard, open the logo file in your vector-based program. Paste in the path.

7. Use pen tools to fine-tune the path. Color the stroke with the Spot Color called CutContour. Save file as an .eps.

Image Resolution

If you're working with a vector image, resolution is not an issue. It can be re-purposed to any size and print setting with no impact on image quality. For bit-mapped images, however, the resolution of the original file determines the limits on the final print size and quality. You need to consider the final use of the graphic, and whether it may be re-purposed later, when creating a bit-mapped file. As a general rule, your image resolution in pixels-per-inch (ppi) should be about 1/4 your desired dots-per-inch print resolution (dpi). For example, if you plan to print at 720 dpi, your image file should be built at 180 ppi at actual size. Another way to determine the appropriate resolution is to consider viewing distance, as the following chart illustrates.

Viewing Distance and Image Resolution

What Happens in the RIP

Once your print/cut graphic is built, your Roland VersaWorks® RIP software will provide you with a multitude of options for working with that graphic. Most importantly, your RIP will recognize the CutContour spot color and convert anything it is applied to from a printing path to a cutting path.

You may use the RIP software to resize, mirror, or tile the graphic, to print/cut any number of multiples of the graphic, or to nest several jobs together. If you're printing multiple images using the Auto-Nesting or Manual Print Layout features, the cutting path will be correctly duplicated and registered for every copy.

You will use your RIP software to define the resolution and print quality of your finished print. Your RIP software contains a complete spectrum of predefined color profiles designed to produce the best possible results by adjusting the number and placement of ink droplets to precisely coordinate with the media and resolution being used on the job.
This article has been excerpted from Roland's popular instructional booklet, Taking the Mystery Out of Print/Cut. The ultimate guide to print/cut technology, this valuable, information-packed resource has already helped thousands of Roland customers streamline their production environments and grow their businesses.Watch Taking the Mystery Out of Print/Cut Video.

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The Perfect Setup: File Preparation For Print/Cut Production

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As any chef will tell you, the best recipes start with the right ingredients. And in the world of print/cut, the best graphics begin with a great piece of art. The right artwork can be anything from a simple logo to a complex combination of photography and type.

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Making Your Own Solder Paste Stencils - SparkFun Electronics

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Making Your Own Solder Paste Stencils - SparkFun Electronics

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Making Your Own Solder Paste Stencils - SparkFun Electronics

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There was still one problem though, how to solder the SMD components. I didn't want to have to solder each component on by hand. That would be very tedious and time consuming. I needed to be able to apply solder paste quickly and easily. I needed a stencil.

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How to Create a Layered Two-Color Decal With The Silhouette Cameo 3 - YouTube

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How to Create a Layered Two-Color Decal With The Silhouette Cameo 3 - YouTube

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How to Create a Layered Two-Color Decal With The Silhouette Cameo 3

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This video shows you the steps necessary to create, cut, and layer a two color decal using your new Silhouette Cameo 3 cutter. For supplies, education, and much more, visit our site: http://www.therhinestoneworld.com/ Like our Facebook for the latest updates on us: https://www.facebook.com/therhinestoneworld Give us a call at 941-755-1696 or email to info@therhinestoneworld.com We look forward to helping you soon!

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10 Ways to Use Vinyl Scraps for Big Profits - Cutting for Business

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10 Ways to Use Vinyl Scraps for Big Profits - Cutting for Business

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Cutting for Business readers are in for a treat today, because Jamie stopped in from Craft Chameleon (formerly Punch Place Plus). I'm turning it over to Jamie:

Hi everyone, Jamie here. Let's talk vinyl scraps today! I don't know if it was my grandmothers' influence, living through The Great Depression, or what but it's tremendously hard for me to throw away small pieces of unused vinyl. Whether Granny or genetics was the cause, the effect is this list of 10 low cost items from Craft Chameleon to use with those vinyl scraps. Read on to see how you can turn your small scraps into big profits!
Please note the figures below show only 'Gross Profits'. This means it does not take into account the following items: wear and tear on equipment, labor, shipping, selling expenses, rent, inventory expenses, interest charges, and other expenses your business might incur.
Now let's make Granny proud and use up our scraps!

1) Post Earrings

Scrap size needed: 1" x 2"

Cost of Earrings $.60/pair to $.89/pair (without shipping)
Selling Price: $5 to $12 per pair
Gross Profit: $4.40 to $11.11

2) Dangle Earrings

Scrap size needed: 1.5" x 2.5"

Cost of Earrings: $.24/pair (without shipping)Selling Price: $5 to $15 per pair Blanks $.67/pair & Wires
Gross Profit: $4.09 to $14.09

3) Charm Bracelet

Scrap size needed: 1.75" x 1.75"

Cost of bracelet and components: Bangle $.55, acrylic charm $.34, 3 Side Cut Oval Jump Rings $.12, 1.5" Tassel $.23, crown charm $.43 (without shipping)
Selling Price: $6.00 to $12 per bracelet
Gross Profit*: $4.33 to $10.33

4) Necklace

Scrap size needed: 2" x 2.5"

Cost of Components: Letter Pendant $.69, Necklace with jump rings $.54 (without shipping)
Selling Price: $5.00 to $10.00
Gross Profit: $3.77 to $8.77

5) Ring Dish

Scrap size needed: 2.5" x 2.5"

Cost of Square Ring Dish: $2.12 each with shipping ($1.06 without shipping but these are heavy so doubling the cost)
Sales Price: $7.50 to $12.00
Gross Profit: $5.38 to $9.88

6) Glass Bottle Stopper

Scrap size needed: 2" x 2.5"

Cost of Stopper: $2.15 (without shipping)
Sales Price: $7 to $15
Gross Profit: $4.85 to $12.85

7) Bag Tags

Scrap size needed: 2.5 x 3.5"

Cost of components: 1 $.35 (without shipping) Ribbon Scrap Optional $0Selling Price: $4.00 to $10 Tag $.75, 1 Luggage Strap
Gross Profit: $2.90 to $8.90

8) Keyrings

Scrap size needed: 3" x 3"

Cost of Components: 2" Glitter (1 side) Circle $.65, Ball chain included (without shipping) Ribbon Scrap Optional $0
Selling Price: $3.50 to $8.50
Gross Profit: $2.85 to $7.85

9) Rings

Scrap size needed: 1" x 1"

Cost of Ring: $.94 Adjustable Wideband Ring (without shipping)
Sales Price: $5.00 to $10.00
Gross Profit: $4.06 to $9.06

10) Pony Tail Cuffs

Scrap size needed: 1.5" x 2"

Now I have some questions for you: Have you seen anything that you could cut from your small scraps? What would the price point be in your area? What would your gross profit be? Better yet what would your Net Profit be? Did this set your creativity in motion and give you ideas for other scrap busting projects?

Have an answer to any or all of these questions? If so, Craft Chameleon would love to hear you - leave a comment or visit us at Craft Chameleon.

Wow, a huge thanks to Jamie for stopping in and sharing so many ideas with Cutting for Business readers today. I guess I need to go pull out my scrap box and get to work.

Don't forget to save this to Pinterest so that you'll have all of Jamie's links when you get ready to start creating:

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10 Ways to Use Vinyl Scraps for Big Profits

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Cutting for Business readers are in for a treat today, because Jamie stopped in from Craft Chameleon (formerly Punch Place Plus). I'm turning it over to Jamie: Hi everyone, Jamie here. Let's talk vinyl scraps today!

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Simple Silk-Screen Printing Using a Vinyl Cutter | Make:

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Simple Silk-Screen Printing Using a Vinyl Cutter | Make:

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Choose a high-contrast image and crop your selection. Next, convert the image to black and white and if necessary, increase your contrast until you have a fairly simple-looking graphic. (Download the Makey the Robot logo here.) See Step 11 below for more on how to create a graphic.

Prepare the file with the vinyl cutter's bundled program - I use Roland CutStudio, but you can use Inkscape or another program. Add a box around the image, leaving at least 2"-3" of margin around all sides of your image so that the ink won't seep around the edges.

When you have your design all set, send it to the vinyl cutter. The knife of the cutter will follow the contours of your design.

It's easiest to use a pre-stretched silk-screen, but you can also make your own. See Step 12 below for instructions on how to make a screen out of a picture frame and silk-screen mesh.

Cut a piece of vinyl the length and width of your screen, plus some extra on all sides, to ensure that it overlaps the frame. In the center of the vinyl, cut a rectangular hole that's big enough for your image. This hole in the mask should be the only place where ink can flow through the screen.

Peel the backing paper from the vinyl and place the mask on the table with its adhesive side facing up. Place the stretched screen frame onto the vinyl, bottom (T-shirt side) down, so it sticks to the adhesive. Make sure the vinyl is attached as neatly as possible to the frame. If your mask is bigger than your frame, make cuts from the edge of the frame to the edge of the vinyl to make it fold neatly.

TIP: If you make the mask by hand, use a straight metal ruler and a sharp utility knife.

Remove the tags and stickers from the shirt. You shouldn't need to wash it beforehand (unless it's already dirty). Brand new shirts seem to take the ink just fine.

I like to put a thickness of coroplast or 1" MDF inside the shirt. A small stack of newspapers works as well. The insert serves 2 purposes: It keeps the ink from bleeding to the back of the shirt, and it adds a bit of tension to the screen while printing, which helps you make a more crisp print.

You can speed the drying process up with a hair dryer.

Once your shirt is totally dry, heat-set the ink by putting it in the clothes dryer on high for 20 minutes or so. The label on your ink bottle might specify a more precise time. You can also use a clothes iron to heat-set the ink, but make sure the ink is dry to the touch first.

WARNING: If you skip this step, you might ruin a whole load of laundry!

Buy (or make) a cheap wooden picture frame for this step. And you'll need a piece of silkscreen mesh that's wider and longer than the frame. Make sure the frame's surface where you're going to put the screen is flat, smooth, and free of staples.

Staple one edge of the screen to one side of the frame. Start in the center, then pull the screen taut and straight as you staple the end of that same side. Pull the screen straight again as you staple the other end of that same side. Then staple the centers of each section until your staples are about 1" apart. Use a hammer to flatten the staples.

Pull the screen to the opposite side of the frame. Staple the center, then the ends, then the centers as you did before, again pulling taut while you staple. Repeat this process for the other two ends of the frame.

When your screen is stretched, it should be tight like the surface of a drum. Trim off the excess screen material with a utility knife or scissors.

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Simple Silk-Screen Printing Using a Vinyl Cutter | Make:

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Choose a high-contrast image and crop your selection. Next, convert the image to black and white and if necessary, increase your contrast until you have a fairly simple-looking graphic. (Download the Makey the Robot logo here.) See Step 11 below for more on how to create a graphic.

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34 Cool Things You Can Do with Your New Vinyl Cutter

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34 Cool Things You Can Do with Your New Vinyl Cutter

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Advertisements for cutting plotters (aka vinyl cutters) in magazines market this technology as a distribution platform for costly design patterns, available from retail outlets as files or physical cartridges. That's a clash with Maker culture: We want to make our own stuff, thank you very much.

But don't write off vinyl cutters just yet. You can accomplish a lot more with a vinyl cutter than the projects often highlighted in advertising associated with "craft cutters." So we pulled together some of our favorite examples, along with some alternative uses you might want to employ.

Labels and Stickers

Stick physical numbers or time labels right onto the table while you photograph the stages of a tutorial or other process to help you sort through the photographs later.

Create labels for materials, supplies, and experiments in your own idiom, from ghoulish safety warnings, to all-caps warnings like "KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY STUFF!"

Place glow in the dark safety labels in your workshop that only reveal themselves when you flip off the lights.

Imperator Furiosa's Skeleton Arm

Maker/Hacker/Blogger Pete Prodoehl exited a screening of Mad Max: Fury Road with a quest of his own: To produce a vinyl sticker replica of Imperator Furiosa's Skeleton Arm. He traced the image and pasted it to the driver's door of his own war machine (and his laptop).

Electronics

Create acid resist patterns for your custom PCBs, and then add "silkscreen" labels.

Use a conductive pen to plot a circuit in low-resistance silver.

Cut thin foil traces, PCB layers, and RFF interference protection for your paper circuits.

Create your own DIY sticker circuits, from blinking "LED stickies" to handy ad-hoc breakouts for your Arduino or Raspberry Pi prototyping.

Woodworking, Craft, and Painting

Create and place trim markers on plywood, MDF, acrylic, or hardwoods on-site where the project will be delivered, and then transport the materials to a better-furnished woodshop for cutting, sanding, and painting.

Create edge boundaries and resist patterns to take some of the terror out of painting, staining, and coating.

Remind yourself of the part ID and rotation when producing a massive assembly project on a CNC, laser cutter, or chopsaw. (Peel and discard when the project is assembled.)

Prepare stencil vinyls and plastic sheets suited to the specific water-based or solvent-based paints you will be using.

Create stencils and resist layers for chemical etching or sandblasting on wood, glass, acrylic, or metal sheets.

Paper Engineering

Cut, crease, score, and perforate papers, cardstocks, and thin plastics to create elaborate kirigami, origami, and other paper craft projects.

Cut and score the top layer of thin foam core or cardboard to produce instant foldable 3D objects.

Add fragments of paper or translucent acetate to produce colorful paper or plywood lanterns.

Light My Heart

Papercircuit designer Natasha Dzurny creates pop-up greeting cards with paper circuits like this Valentine's Day card (and many more).

Prototypes and Project Decorations

Produce foam or stiff paper prototypes of product designs or scale models of buildings.

Test ambitious CNC and laser cuts in miniature before executing on large or costly materials.

Add text, weathering, decals, and patches of color to your 3D printed scale replicas.

Add tiny text and embellishment details onto 3D printed replica props that are too small and fussy to produce using your printer.

Sometimes the best cuts are hidden. Double-stick adhesive sheets securely attach embellishments to your projects, or attach your projects to walls and tables and other things.

Custom Apparel

Launch your next project "in character" with outfits bearing the logo, name, and purpose of your invention.

Create team shirts for your First Robotics team, hackerspace, or classroom.

Transfer any design or illustration you dream up to tshirts, totes, and temporary tattoos.

Simple Silk-Screen Printing

Educator and Make contributor Chris Connors shared this project in issue 36, demonstrating how to use a vinyl sticker as the mask for a DIY silkscreen project.

Homes, Schools, Hackerspaces, and More

Create removable vinyl wallpaper patterns on your own time and whims.

Add frosting or translucent blocking to window glass or acrylic laser cut projects without the messiness of acid etching/sandblasting equipment.

Enlarge a thoughtful handwritten note into an epic wall decoration.

Vectorize photographs of members of your class, team, or hackerspace. Use a marking tool in your machine to sketch portraits to hang in the space. Run the files again to produce another copy to send home with the subject of each drawing.

Create labels with magnetic backing material to mark who is "In", "Out", or who should "Clean the Bathroom."

Add a permanent wall shadow to a present or missing object.

Cut the panels and silhouette shapes for elaborate interactive shadow boxes.

Make your own museum-style wall text and stick it up next to something you appreciate as art.

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34 Cool Things You Can Do with Your New Vinyl Cutter | Make:

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Advertisements for cutting plotters (aka vinyl cutters) in magazines market this technology as a distribution platform for costly design patterns, available from retail outlets as files or physical cartridges. That's a clash with Maker culture: We want to make our own stuff, thank you very much. But don't write off vinyl cutters just yet.

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The Roland CAMM-1 GS-24 desktop cutter is precision and efficiency-to the max. Easy to use but the most technologically advanced vinyl cutter and sign machine in its class, it gives users the chance to create professional apparel, signage, banners and more from a compact desktop device.