FMP Laser Cutting

This week I wanted to expand my ideas and prints by using different materials to print on. I found through my research some shapes that she had in her clothing, which I then developed to have laser cut. I found the inspiration for this idea from the designer Stefan Cooke. By using laser cutting to create shapes and then print on prints to make it look like the shape of a jumper. I then wanted to experiment for myself and to see whether my prints would work in the same way as his. I had to problem solve and think of a material that would be ale to show the print through but also wouldn’t be to thin that it would melt when transferring the pattern onto the cuttings. I came across a material called clear acrylic, which is a more recent created material, and thought that it would be perfect to be able to hold the shape and show through. From this laser cutting workshop it allowed me to broaden my ideas by using different materials not just fabric all the time. When I first printed onto my laser cutting, the print didn’t transfer well and made the pattern’s colour patchy. I hated this and want to be able to create the print to show clearly on the acrylic. By asking help from the technicians, she told me that it would be better if the temperature was higher on 180 degrees instead of 150 and having a longer time of 30 seconds instead of 20. This was successful and I really like how the print have come out. the darker colour prints have come out better because they have made the acrylic translucent so you can’t see clearly through, whereas the lighter colours such as pinks and yellows you can see clearly through. When I go onto develop this idea and if I use this idea as part of my final piece I would use a darker print so that it stands out more.