Laser Cut Mardi Gras Mask

Today you will personalize a mask template and cut it out on the laser cutter. We will have hot glue guns, feathers, and sequins for embellishments.

A note about the mask pictured in the examples: fill is on and eyes are "excluded" so we can more easily see the transformations. Your template will have fill turned off.

Download the Template and Open in Inkscape

The template, blank mask template.svg, is located at the bottom of the page. By Right-Clicking on the download arrow, you can select Desktop as the download destination.

Once the file has downloaded to the Desktop, locate it, Right-Click on it, and select to open in Inkscape.

A note about the template: This template was not downloaded, but created from trial and error. You can take a ruler and measure out the distance between your eyes, and draw a shape around it if you want to create an original template. Or, you can download this and do whatever you wish with it!

The Template and Today's Tools

The template is a basic mask. Using Path Nodes, you will change the shape of the mask. You may also add decorative lines and shapes to be cut out of the mask if you wish. Click on Path Nodes to activate, and try out the path options which appear at the top.

Nodes: the gray boxes (which turn blue when selected/active)

Segments: the lines/curves between nodes

From left to right, we'll primarily use:

• • Add a node to selected segment

  • Delete a node

• (skip) Join selected nodes

• (skip) Break path at selected nodes

• (skip) Join selected end nodes with a new segment

• (skip) Delete segment between two non-endpoint nodes

  • Make selected nodes corner

  • Make selected nodes smooth

  • Make selected nodes symmetric

  • Make selected nodes auto-smooth

  • Make selected segments lines

  • Make selected segments curves

A thorough explanation of Path Tools: http://en.flossmanuals.net/inkscape/toolbox/node-tool/

Inkscape Guide to Node Tool: http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Paths-Editing.html

You can make a nice range of edits with the Path Tools.

Shapes and Vector Settings

Stars, Polygons, and Square

Holes

Do you need holes for string/elastic, or to hang up?

Use the Circle Tool to draw a small hole, about 0.20 inches wherever you need them.

Time to Cut

After you have made the desired changes, save your file as an SVG. Use your name so we can find it on the SD card. Go to File>Save As> to save. Every one will receive a mask on chip board. If you would like to add a layer of card stock on top, please select a sheet of card stock, too.

Survey

Surveys are here: https://sites.google.com/site/cplmakerlab/surveys