Vector Tricks
In our last tutorial we discussed how to alter the print
effects
of a Wrapture Half Body Wrap. Today I am going to show how to change
the shape of the cut file to get even more mileage from this versatile art.
I will be demonstrating using Flexi 8.5 but these alterations
can be made using any vector based
program such as Sign Wizard, Corel Draw, Adobe Illustrator and so on.
First we can start by importing the print file for the Half Wrap
we are going to use.
I have picked the Oxide file for use in this tutorial.
Click picture for larger view
Next we will import the .eps file for the Oxide image which
will serve as our Cut Contour.
Sweep
select both the
.eps file and the print file. With both selected click
align both centers under
the arrange tab (ctrl+5).
Your image should now look like this only the vector will be black.
(I have changed the color of the vector so it is easy to see.)
Click picture for larger view
Now we will select just the vector and get our select point
tool. By deleting and moving a couple of nodes
with this tool I have very quickly changed the vector to look like this.
(Remember to round your corners that contain sharp points.)
Click picture for larger view
In order to remove the blue portion
we will perform a clipping mask. Before we do this
we must first duplicate the vector and do an outline on the copy made (under
effects tab)
so we make sure to maintain a nice bleed that the Wrapture Half Body Wraps come
with.
This outline copy is going to be the vector you use for your clipping mask.
To do this you must first switch back to the selection tool and make sure that
the outlined vector
is centered in front of the
print file and the other slightly smaller vector is off to the side.
Sweep select both images (outlined vector and the print file) and under the arrange tab click mask
- mask.
Now you should have a file that looks like this with your smaller vector off to
the side.
Click picture for larger view
Next we will select the smaller vector and under the arrange
tab click make cut contour.
Sweep select the masked print file and the new cut contour and align them
(ctrl+5).
You will now be ready to print/cut with a nice bleed.
Here are three other examples of half wraps with an altered cut contour.
Click pictures for larger view
Burnout
Lotus
Vigilante
Click pictures for larger view
As you can see it doesn't take much time at all to come up
with something new
with very little effort. I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial.
Please email me with questions, comments or
if you have finished jobs that you would like to have placed in our catalog.
email: sales@auroragraphics.net
Grant Dorsey