Heat-applied vinyl fabric transfers are used to make vector art shirts.
Vector art differs from other artwork made on a computer, because it uses a mathematical framework -- not pixels. Because of this, it can be enlarged to any size without losing its resolution. This makes vector art idea for vinyl cutting. It can be created from any image type including .bmp, .jpg and .png. Automatic vinyl cutters use computer software to cut vector images with ease.
Instructions
1. Open your vector editing software. Some examples of vector editing software are CorelDRAW, Inkscape and Illustrator. Load your image into the program. Images with darker colors around the edges make it easier to outline them.
2. Trace the outline of the image in the software, and cut out any background not needed in the vector art. Edit the image in the software, if you want to adjust the brightness, contrast or colors.
3. Convert your image to vector. Some software will have an "Update" option, an "Expand" option or a "Convert" option. Save the image as a vector image. File extensions for vector images include .eps, .ai or .cdr.
4. Open your vinyl cutter software, and load your vector art into the program. Each vinyl cutter will have reference points that appear around the outside of your image. The cutter will not cut these points; they are used only to align the cutter. Most of these points are small black dots.
5. Create the vector outline. Select the option to create an image outline, and then outline the parts of the image that need to be cut out. If the vector has an outer outline and parts of the middle that need cut out, every edge must be outlined. Extract or save the outline. The cutting edges appear around the vector art.
6. Print your vector art to the vinyl printer.
7. Load the vinyl into the cutter. Line up the vinyl sheet or roll on the cutter. All cutters have alignment markers for you to position the vinyl. Move the rollers on the cutter to the edges of the vinyl, and clamp them in place. Select the option on the cutter for sheet or roll.
8. Select cut from the cutter's software. The cutter will find the outlines and reference points, and cut the vinyl as indicated.
