8331 Madison Blvd, Suite 200B
Madison, AL 35758
256-705-GEAR (4327)
Introduction to 2D Design
Nomenclature
•LMB – Left Mouse Button
•RMB – Right Mouse Button
•MMB – Middle Mouse Button
•Will cover [menu bar] and hot-keys
•Program functions are italicized
Vector vs Bitmap Graphics
•Vector Graphics
•Defines points and lines with
mathematical relationships
•Can be scaled up or down
without loss of resolution
•Easier to edit
•Generally makes for a smaller file
•File types – SVG (Inkscape), AI (Illustrator), CDR
(CorelDraw)
•Raster (or bitmap) Graphics
•Contains images that originally were not generated by
computer (pictures, scans, etc.)
•JPEG, BMP, GIF, etc.
•More detail, edit pixel at a time
•Programs exist to convert from one form to another(inkscape is
one)
Interface
Menu Bar
Command Bar Tool Controls
Change Width and Height
Tool Box
Drawing Area
Color Palette
Status Bar
Snap Bar
Interface
•Changing View
•Pan - MMB drag (or Shift+RMB)
•Zoom in - Ctrl+RMB
•Or use zoom buttons (selection, drawing, page)
•Or use zoom button and shift zoom button
•[View - Duplicate Window] can show details in
new window!
•Changing page size
•Ctrl-Shift-D or [File-Document Property]
Basics
Select
Zoom
Circles and Arcs
Geometric Shapes and Stars
Free Hand
Bezier and Straight lines
Text
Space bar swaps
between selection
and last used tool
Managing Objects
•Your best friends!
•[Edit – Undo] and [Edit – Redo] or Ctrl-Z and
Ctrl-Y
•[Edit – Cut] [Edit – Copy] [Edit – Paste]or CtrlX, Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V
•Scaling –single click and move the arrows on
corners
•Rotate – Double click the object and select curved
arrows (holding ctrl locks at 15 o increments)
•Cloning – [Edit – Clone – Create Clone] or Alt-D
•[Object – Fill and Stroke] or Shift-Ctrl-F
•[Object-Group]-Ctrl+G
Advanced Methods
•Locking Objects – Ctrl-Shift-O or [Object
Properties]. Can only unlock by editing XML file or
by [Object – Unlock All]!
•Hiding Objects – Use [Object Properties] dialog.
Unhide using [Object – Unhide All]!
•Tweak – Nudges vectors based on how far
they are from the mouse cursor
•Edit Nodes – Great for adjusting curves,
precise movements
Advanced Methods
•Vector Math
•Clip – [Object – Clip – Set]
trims objects to geometry
of vector object
•Mask – [Object – Clip – Set] both clips and sets
transparency based on vector
object
•Paths – under [Path]
•[Union]
•[Difference]
•[Intersection]
•[Exclusion]
•Etc.
•Pictures next to the tool tells what the
Tips and Tricks
•Use notches and small clearances to allow pieces
to interface
•For Laser Cutter
•Engraving pictures use low resolution
•Engrave first, cut later
•For CNC
•Make sure vectors are closed
•Pocket first then cut
•Don’t be afraid to screw something up.
•Screw up something cheap before making a
final cut
Laser Cutter
•Can etch woods, metals(anodized or laser marked),
and some plastics(no pvc)
•Can cut wood, plastics, and rubber
•Save the file out as an .svg (for future edititng) and
as a .PDF (to use on the laser)
Laser Cutter
•Rastering
•Rastering=Etching or Engraving
•The image might have to be tweaked in inkscape to produce
a clear etch
•DPI = dots per inch that the laser pulses
•Stamp – inverts grayscales
•Includes a shoulder
•Mainly for engraving rubber
•Vector
•Vector means cutting
•In order to cut the line must have a thickness of 0.001in or
0.090px
•Tabbed Box Maker
•http://www.keppel.demon.co.uk/111000/111000.html
Laser Cutter
•Vector
•Vector means cutting
•In order to cut the line must have a thickness of
0.001in or 0.090px
•Tabbed Box Maker
•http://www.keppel.demon.co.uk/111000/111000.html
•Simple plugin for Inkscape
•Use 0.001 setting for kerf
CNC Vinyl Cutter
•CNC
•Can cut woods and soft metals
•Save the file out as an .svg (for future edititng)
and as a .eps or .dxf (to use on CNC)
•.eps works the best
•Line width does not matter
•Make sure vectors are as closed as possible
•Vinyl Cutter
•Only cuts an outline of an object
•Make sure lines are joined
•Copy and paste inkscape work into Roland
cutting program
Vinyl Cutter
•Vinyl Cutter
•Only cuts an outline of an object
•Make sure lines are joined
•Copy and paste inkscape work into Roland
cutting program
Lets Make Something Fun
•I’m going to make a make I MADE THIS AT
MINDGEAR Plaque
•The plaque you make does not have to be the
same but need to fit 3x5in
•Lets begin by drawing a 3x5in box and rounding
the corners
Lets Make Something Fun
•Now I’m going to put some text onto the plaque
•I’m going to rotate the text to give it some flare
Lets Make Something Fun
•Instead of just typing MindGear I am going to
import a picture from the internet
•You can do this two ways [file-import] or copy
and paste
Lets Make Something Fun
•Before we save this file to make our plaque we
need to make sure everything we want to cut has a
line thickness of 0.001in and everything we want to
etch has no stroke and is filled
Becoming a Fabologist