Intro to Laser Cutting and Vector Editors - Halloween Edition

Description

A hands-on class designed to transform your digital ideas into tangible, laser cut creations. This introductory course welcomes anyone with basic computer skills and a curiosity for crafting. You'll delve into the exciting world of laser cutting, learning the fundamentals of vector editing and understanding how to bring your designs to life using state-of-the-art makerspace equipment. Through practical demonstrations and personalized guidance, you'll gain the skills to customize, create, and take home your very own laser-cut project, perfect for unique gifts or personal keepsakes.

Theme: Halloween Signage/Coasters

This month as we celebrate spooky season, the project will involve creating hanging door art, and optionally coasters. Different designs are offered, but outside designs, if appropriate.

About your instructor

Theo is excited to share the fun and creativity of laser cutting and vector editors. For the past year, he has been exploring these tools and software at CrashSpace, the local Hackerspace. As a game designer, Theo creates things digitally, and laser cutting and 3D printing allow them to bring those digital designs into the real world. Using this background, Theo is inspired to teach the basics of vector editing and laser cutting, so attendees can create their own fun gifts.

Who this class is for

This introductory class is perfect for anyone comfortable with basic computer use who is curious about bringing digital designs to life. If you've ever wanted to engrave wood, cut acrylic, or even laser engrave on aluminum, this class is for you! It's also a fantastic opportunity to learn how to create fun art or custom gifts for the important people in your life.

Requirements:

This class is open to individuals 18 and older, and no makerspace membership or prior experience with vector editing or laser cutting is required. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing as this is a fully indoor event. You won't need to bring your own computer, as all materials and equipment will be provided for you.

Class Contents

• Showcase of the makerspace's offerings.
• Introduction to laser cutting and engraving, including different types of lasers.
• Overview of what can be done using laser cutting.
• Understanding the difference between vector and raster images.
• Basic overview of a vector editor.
• Hands-on demo showcasing how to create a vector from scratch and cut it out.
• Supervised opportunity for each attendee to customize, create, and bring home a laser-cut take-home project.

Take-Homes

By the end of this class, you'll have:

• A foundational understanding of laser cutting and vector editing.
• The ability to differentiate between vector and raster images.
• Practical experience creating a digital design and bringing it to life with a laser cutter.
• Your very own custom-made, laser-cut take-home project.