Envelopes

Mini breakthrough today, adjusted the code that cuts out envelopes and the code that stamps them to work on repeating patterns on larger sheets and cut "perforations". So instead of me having to do envelopes one at a time (which is nice, but means I have to keep stopping what I'm doing to change the ink/tools), I can now do four in one go, and it makes it easy to break down into four A4 sheet.

Will probably look at cutting out postcards next.

Figured stars may be fun too!!

Figured that if I could make a 3d printed holder for the Cricut blade, then I could make one of the scorer/creaser too. It's just a hard slightly rounded point, so I didn't even bother with the holder part.

A bit of configuring and I had some gcode set at the right height to score folding lines into the paper and card.

In theory I can now string these bits of GCODE together with instructions in it for the ArtFrame to pause and tell me to change the tool.

At some point it'll handle the ink stamping, adding score/creases, and then cutting out the envelope. I could even get it to write in that whole process, but I think it's better to keep the sheets as A4 pop-out envelope so I can feed them into the pen plotter later for writing addresses.

The photo shows a couple of test blocks I 3d printed to make sure the nib thing fitted before printing the whole holder.

3d printed a holder for a Cricut cutter blade, and amazingly it works. I can now set the plotter away cutting out my envelopes!

Like dots, but why not stars instead!

I needed some example photos for the newsletter showing how there were a couple of different ways of making envelopes, the template I'd 3d printed, and also the scoring board I'd printed to help me fold the envelopes.

Classic perlin landscape plot design, turned into a fetching silver on black envelope.

This is part of the inspiration behind making envelopes. Karel Martens made some wonderful prints using lego blocks, and also, separately made his own patterned printed envelopes. I liked this idea, and have liked the idea of making envelopes for ages anyway, and decided that using the "rubber stamping" machine would be a good way of doing something fun.

I opted for halftone designs, and the code once again only places the dots inside the envelope outline.

Here's the first envelope printed with lots of dots, I think it's pretty amazing.

A bit more work on envelopes today. I took the 3d model I had and exported the outline of the base as an SVG file, which I cleaned up and then used in my code to draw lots of circles, but only inside the outline of the envelope.

Also masked out the area for the address, kinda fun really.

Also had a go out cutting out an envelope from an old rejected 70s Pop print.

I decided to make some envelopes, there's going to be a bit more to it than this. But first things first, make a 3d stencil to help me make them.