Vinyl Decals for Vases
Learning Outcomes
Today we hope you will
become familiar with Inkscape's Node Tools
learn how to save a file for a vinyl cutter
apply vinyl to glass
have fun!
Download
Download Vase Decals.svg and save it to the Desktop.
Open
Locate the file on your Desktop. Right-Click on it and select Inkscape to force Inkscape to open.
Your template will look like this. Your work area is 11" x 6". You can use any of the shapes below, create new shapes, or use text for your vase. The floral vectors were found on this page and were cleaned up for the vinyl cutter.
Note: Designing for graphics and designing for a tool like a laser cutter or vinyl cutter is a slightly different process. Clean up includes things like removing double strokes and making sure vector lines don't cross one another.
Designing
The vases for this class are cylinders, 11" around and 6" in height. Select a shape to work with. You can select up to two shapes. In the example below, we have selected one shape, expanded it to fill the area, and modified the nodes.
You can also add a short message if you wish. Select your font, the placement, and the size. When you have the look you are going for, you MUST select your text and go to Path > Object to Path. This will allow the vinyl cutter to interpret the text correctly. This is a commonly skipped step when learning, so if you don't see your text in Silhouette, go back into Inkscape and try again!
If you're using something like the script above (Script MT Bold), you must also Union the paths (to remove crossed paths). Do this by Ungrouping your letters, then go to Path>Union.
Save
Save your file as an SVG and a DXF. We save both because it is easy to edit the SVG in Inkscape later. It is not easy to edit the DXF in Inkscape. We save in DXF for the vinyl cutter. In the dialogue, change Base Unit to Inches.
