Setting Up Your Working Environment

In this Tutorial you will learn Adobe Illustrator design basics for the Glowforge Laser Cutter:

Getting Started having a mouse will be helpful! *Control + Z is undo!

Laptops will be ‘ready to go’ with Adobe Illustrator, just open the App:

On Right Side: Change Untitled to: YourName_Laser_YourClass

Change PIXELS to INCHES

Change Width: 5 in and Height: 5 in (this is the size of the “artboard” or canvas you will design on)

Select Create

Along top bar: Window > Workspace > Automation

Creating Your Name Tag

Making the Base

Along the Left Panel there are drawing options. Each option has more tools within; left click & hold to see.

Select: Rectangle and simply CLICK onto your artboard. Width: 3 in Height: 1.5 in

Alternate way to make the shape: Click and Drag a box on the artboard and select the Transform option along the top bar to adjust W and H)

To Round the corners of your keychain click & drag inwards on any of the blue circles in the corners:

PRO-TIP: If your rectangle (or shape) appears as a SOLID black box and you want it to be outlined you need to make the FILL none (red bar) and the STROKE black 1pt. Two ways to do that:

Option 1: Flip stroke and fill button (along left panel)

Option 2: Change Fill to none and Stroke to Black 1pt (in the top bar)

PRO-TIP: If you ever find yourself frustrated trying to move an object but you keep drawing rectangles, stars, text boxes, etc. GO TO YOUR SELECTION TOOL the top most arrow button on the left panel. Think of this like your NEUTRAL; it’s good practice to return to the selection tool after every operation. This is the tool that allows you to select and move objects, as well as select and delete unwanted objects.

PRO-TIP: Holding SHIFT and scaling an object by clicking a corner and dragging in or out will MAINTAIN PROPORTIONS; if you do not hold shift you will distort objects.

Make the hole for the keyring: Click and HOLD the rectangle button in the left panel to see other shape options; Select the Ellipse.

Simply CLICK onto your artboard. Width: 0.19 in Height: 0.19 in (you can customize this to your liking; any opening between 0.125 in and 0.25 in works well for a key ring hole)

Alternate way to make the shape: Click and Drag a circle on the artboard (hold SHIFT to make it a circle) and select the Transform option along the top bar to adjust W and H)

Zoom in by holding CONTROL and + ( zoom out is Control and -)

Select the Circle using the SELECTION TOOL and click near the center blue square to grab and move the object. If you are changing the shape of the object by mistake, Control + Z (undo) and zoom in closer before grabbing the object near the center.

Move the circle near the corner of the rectangle as shown:

Note: this should be approximately 0.125 in from the edge of the rectangle–any closer and it may break off

Adding Text

Adding Text: Select the Text Tool ‘T’ from the left panel and simply CLICK on your artboard and start typing

Modify the Size and the Font:

Size: use the Selection tool to select the text at a corner, hold SHIFT, and scale up or down

Alternate Way: you can also adjust the font size along the top bar

Font: Select a font along the top bar as shown:

Convert the Font to a Shape: right click on text and select Create Outlines (*important step! Glowforge will not recognize text as a font, but will recognize text as a shape. It will no longer be something you can edit after you create outlines, so spell check first!)

Alternate way: Select text then Object > Expand (check Stroke and Fill and select okay)

Adding Shapes

Adding other Shapes: Click and HOLD the ellipse/rectangle button in the left panel to see other shape options; Select the Star.

Simply CLICK on the artboard to get more options and experiment with different sizes and points. Select OK to generate the shape onto the artboard:

Remember: you can modify the size of an object with the Selection tool and scaling a corner holding SHIFT and you can Move an object with the Selection tool (grabbing the object towards the center)

Brush Tool: allows you to draw and paint freehand (*be sure that Brush Definition is changed from Basic to 5 pt Round–or any brush)

Pen Tool and Curvature Tool: allow you to draw in different ways (explore to find out!) and remember Control Z to undo.

TASK: FOLLOW THE ABOVE STEPS TO CREATE A KEYCHAIN THAT CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING:

1. Your Name
2. A symbol, drawing, or image that represents you or something you love (*keep it positive, and mind the copyright!)
3. Something you value

Sending your job to the Glowforge

See a S-Team member if it’s your first time

See Cutting to run your job on the laser