How to make an inflatable shape
1
Prepare design file in Illustrator. File should contains 2 shapes: for backing paper and for vinyl.
Do not forget to make space for place through which air is going to be blown inside a shape.
2
Export file in a format .dxf
3
Download program Silhuette and open your file in it.
4
Go to "Design/Page set up" and change artboard to the size of printing machine (A4, portrait).
5
Put on the artboard shape for backing paper. Other shape move out from the artboard, we will use it later.
6
Put backing paper to the special board for printing. It should stick very well to the surface of the board. Otherwise printer might damage the paper as you can see on the photo.
7
Insert the board with paper into the printer.
8
Go to "Send" and adjust settings for printing. You have to change speed and force according to the materil you are going to use. For thin materials speed and force should be lower than for thick. For backing paper use speed - 2, force - 10.
9
Now you have manually change speed on the printer cutting element. Speed should be the same as chosen in the program.
10
Make a test of printing. If it works well press "Send".
11
After printing shape on backing paper you have to print your second shape on vinyl. Put on the printing board piece of vinyl. Important! Vinyl should be put with matte side on the top.
12
On the computer put to the artboard your second shape for vinyl.
13
Go to "Send" and adjust settings. For Vinyl: material - vinyl, matte; speed - 4; force - 15.
14
Make a test. If it works well press "Send" to print. Remember that you will need two similar vinyl pieces.
15
When vinyl pieces are cutted you have to separate them from the rest of material and from the foil.
16
Now you have to combine all pieces together. Make a "sandwich": vinyl-baking paper-vilyl.
17
Next step is a Hot Press. Put your "sandwich" to the pressing machine. Important! You should put baking paper under and above your sandwich - otherwise mashine will melt vinyl.
18
Hot press for 15 seconds. Take it out, wait for a few seconds to cool it down and then separate your shape from the foil.
19
Put the tube in the whole for air.
20
Congratulations - your inflatable shape is done! :)
