On Sunday, July 26, 2015, we had the first Social and
Learning Gathering for Potters from the Western Pennsylvania area. With over forty in attendance, I talked about
some of the technology resources that I currently use in my work. The rest of the time was devoted to an
opportunity for potters to share food and drink, conversation, and a tour of
TechShop Pittsburgh, which is located in the Bakery Square area of Pittsburgh’s
East Liberty neighborhood.
TechShop is a 20,000 square foot membership facility that
contains many technology resources and machines.
1.
A TechShop membership provides access to
many machines that can be useful to creative types. Costs are on the website for daily, monthly, or
yearly memberships. www.techshop.ws
2. One tool that I
have in my studio (not at TechShop) is a color ceramic laser printer. Almost
anything that is in a cmyk color format in Photoshop can be printed on a sheet of decal paper, then laminated with a thin, clear glaze, applied and
fired to 1600 degrees F to fuse to an already fired ceramic surface.
Enduring Images is the official reseller of Michael Zimmer’s patented color ceramic decal process that I use. Excellent people to do business with. There are other people selling a similar system who are using this patented process without permission or compensation. I have chosen not to buy from them. www.enduring-images.com
Enduring Images is the official reseller of Michael Zimmer’s patented color ceramic decal process that I use. Excellent people to do business with. There are other people selling a similar system who are using this patented process without permission or compensation. I have chosen not to buy from them. www.enduring-images.com
3. To learn the software necessary to use the TechShop tools, I
use an online resource called Lynda.com. This is an online educational system that
contains thousands of lessons on a wide variety of subjects.
I mainly use it to learn how to use the software I utilize in my work: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Astute Graphics plugins, Adobe Premier Pro video editing software, Corel Draw, Corel Painter, AutoDesk programs such as AutoCad, Inventor, and Fusion 360, and other software programs. Cost is $25/month for unlimited usage and goes month to month. www.lynda.com
I mainly use it to learn how to use the software I utilize in my work: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Astute Graphics plugins, Adobe Premier Pro video editing software, Corel Draw, Corel Painter, AutoDesk programs such as AutoCad, Inventor, and Fusion 360, and other software programs. Cost is $25/month for unlimited usage and goes month to month. www.lynda.com
Hardware
The color ceramic laser decal process enables you to prepare
photos and other images in Adobe Photoshop, which then go from Photoshop to the
Ricoh printer. The images are printed
onto special decal paper up to 8 ½” x 11” in size. The decal sheet is then laminated to a cover
sheet, which has a thin layer of clear glaze.
The decals are then applied to a fired ceramic surface and fired
to 1600 degrees F. The images are fired
onto the ceramic piece and are as resistant to scratching or cleaning as the
underlying ceramic glaze. The can be
used outdoors and are frost-proof if the underlying clay and glaze is
frost-proof. www.enduring-images.com
Ricoh color laser printer model 430 DN - 37 pages per minute and 1200 x 1200 dot per inch.
I also have several HP model 1020 printers that can be used
to print sepia tone images on decal paper.
This process relies on the red iron oxide that is in the printer
cartridge for the color and relies on application to a ceramic surface that
begins a slight melt when re-fired. The
image is then permanent.
It takes some experimentation to match the decal, glaze and
firing temperature. Other black and
white laser printers will also work if the toner contains a high percentage of
red iron oxide. Decal paper is available
through a variety of sources.
Computer - iMac 27 – 27” screen with 16 gigabytes of
RAM. Switched from PC to Mac some time
ago and don’t regret it.
Wacom Cintiq – The Cintiq is a graphics tablet that enables
you to put the image from your computer screen to the pressure sensitive tablet
that allows you to use a stylus to draw or paint directly on the screen image. I use a Cintiq model of this tablet. www.wacom.com
A TechShop membership provides access to many machines that
can be useful to creative types.
Specifically some of the ones that I use are:
1.
Flow WaterJet cutter – water is forced through a
small nozzle at 60,000 psi supplemented with garnet granules for abrasion. This machine is capable of following a vector
image to precisely cut through 6” of steel or through ceramic tile without
breaking the tile. I use this machine to
cut complex shapes out of porcelain tile and to cut wood or metal for extruder
dies.
2.
Laser cutter – using a beam of light, this
machine is capable of cutting paper, wood, or plastic and for etching designs
into glass or glaze. I use it in many
ways but primarily to cut glazed decal sheets into precise images. It can also be used to etch photographs into
wood or plastic or for making stamps to impress designs into wet clay.
3.
Vacuuming forming machine – softened 1/8” ABS
plastic is formed around a 2 ½” wooden form designed and cut to be an
interlocking, tessellating shape. After
vacuum forming, the wooden shape is removed and the top1/4” of the plastic is
cut evenly. The edges are then sharpened
with a Dremel grinding tool. The result
is a cookie cutter die for making tiles from slabs of wet clay.
4.
ShopBot – CNC wood cutter. TechShop Pittsburgh has the Standard and the
Buddy. Standard table is 48” x 96”
whereas the Buddy is 24” x 32”. The
Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) router carves and machines two-dimensional
and three-dimensional objects from wood, plastic, or light metals.
I use the ShopBot to cut extruder dies and also some three-dimensional shapes for molding. I have also used it for making tessellating tile shapes but have found that the WaterJet cutter works better for me.
I use the ShopBot to cut extruder dies and also some three-dimensional shapes for molding. I have also used it for making tessellating tile shapes but have found that the WaterJet cutter works better for me.
ShopBot Alpha 4 x 8 ft. bed.
ShopBot Buddy 24" x 32" work area.
5. There are many other tools at TechShop that are not computer controlled that I have found useful with my work. The Edwards Iron Worker is highly versatile and powerful tool that shears steel plate (up to 5/8" thick), punches holes (up to 1-1/6" diameter in 5/8" thick steel), notches, and shears angle iron (up to 1/4" x 4" x 4") and round stock. One specific use is to cut and notch angle iron to use as bridges to hold the internal die in place for those extruder dies that are hollow. After forming I use the sand blaster to prepare the surface and then powder-coat the metal to prevent rusting. A list of tools at TechShop Pittsburgh is found at: http://www.techshop.ws/tools_and_equipment.html
Edwards Iron Worker
Powder Coating Large Oven - approximately a 5 foot cube setting area. There is also a smaller oven in the powder coating room.
Software
Adobe Photoshop www.adobe.com For me, it all started two years ago with
Photoshop, which was a necessary tool to know to use with my color ceramic
decal printer. Photoshop is an immensely
complex piece of software with a large learning curve to learn to use well. To learn to use it, I started with a
subscription to www.lynda.com, which enabled me to watch the instructional videos
over and over until they finally sunk into my brain.
Photoshop Plug-ins - Plug-ins are pieces of software that build
upon the core program (Photoshop in this case) to provide features either not
available in Photoshop or that work better than the ones in Photoshop.
I use three products from Alien Skin: Exposure, Snap Art, and BlowUp. As plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop, they extend
what is possible for manipulating photographic images. I use BlowUp to enlarge images without losing
detail, Exposure to bring warmth to a photo, and SnapArt to manipulate
photographs into a more painterly-type image.
After modification, I print these images on the color laser decal printer.
AlienSkin BlowUp
AlienSkin Exposure - after (left) and before (right).
AlienSkin Snap Art - SnapArt filter applied to photo.
Adobe Illustrator An image created in Photoshop, when enlarged,
will show the individual dots or bits that make up a line. This is used more as a visualization system,
but an image created in Illustrator uses mathematical points that can be
enlarged infinitely and will still remain intact. These lines are called vectors, which can be
individual dots, lines, curves, and shapes.
Using a vector based drawing program like Illustrator is
used to define an image so a machine can use it. Like Photoshop, Illustrator has many features
that require an active effort to learn to control. Again, the lessons in www.lynda.com are very useful to aid learning.
Illustrator Plug-ins.
1.
Artlandia provides plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator. I use Symmetry Works, which is a pattern generator. There are exactly 17 types of symmetry that
can be employed to create surface patterns and Symmetry Works has an algorithm for each one. www.artlandia.com
SymmetryWorks - pattern generator.
SymmetryWorks - pattern generator.
2. Astute Graphics provides a number of Illustrator plug-ins that are very useful. I utilize all of these plug-ins for image
creation. The description of all of
these tools is too lengthy for this article, but I will summarize those that
are useful as an examples. www.astutegraphics.com
MirrorMe from Astute Graphics allows me to select one or many axes
(up to 72) that will reflect what you are drawing on one side of the axis to
the other side. For example, if I were
drawing an object that was symmetrical, I would only have to draw one side and
the software would automatically draw the other at the same time. By adding axes, you can generate complex
patterns quickly.
MirrorMe
MirrorMe
Other plug-ins from Astute
Graphics that I use:
1.
ColliderScribe
provides a simple toolset enabling you to position shapes accurately, placing
any object precisely next to another when it touches. Easily and quickly
arrange shapes in formations and patterns in just a click. Fill single or multiple shapes with selected
objects, packing the items for a great result. The live features include
uniformity, size rotation, multiplication and release/expand.
ColliderScribe
ColliderScribe
Image by Carlos Garro
2.
DynamicSketch. Specifically designed to improve your vector
design workflow, this dynamic sketch tool means you can draw more naturally, intuitively
and quickly in vector.
3.
InkQuest. Provides a streamlined workflow where the
operator can remain within Illustrator to instantly identify and correct print
issues. Easy to understand information and feedback on critical aspects of
print readiness for your artwork files means you can control printing costs.
4.
InkScribe
allows for a much easier and smoother way to draw precisely that Illustrator
tools. You can save time and concentrate on the creative process rather than
learning all those key presses of Illustrator.
InkScribe is a powerful drawing tool.
InkScribe is a powerful drawing tool.
5.
Phantasm. Color controls in Illustrator that allow one
to have Photoshop effects but in Illustrator.
Phantasm.
Phantasm.
6.
Rasterino
gives you previously unobtainable control directly in your document saving you
hours in your common tasks. You can crop.
trim, or edit with precision controls.
Rasterino controls.
Image by Carlos Garro
7. Stylism. Stylism offers a very user-friendly interface for using Illustrator's native features; Drop Shadow, Feather, Inner Glow, Outer Glow,Transform, Free Distort, Offset Path and Gaussian Blur live effects. The advantage is that you can see the effects live.
Stylism.
8.
VectorScribe. Drawing plug-ins for Illustrator: Smart
Remove Brush Tool, Extend path tool, Dynamic Shapes, Dynamic Corners,
PathScribe Tool, Dynamic Measure Tool, and Protractor Tool.
9.
WidthScribe
Tool. This allows you to enhance your vector work by varying multiple
stroke widths with complete control and ease. Apply the Width Stamp to
underlying artwork and create unique, distinctive results in a click.
WidthScribe varying stroke tool.
WidthScribe varying stroke tool.
10. SubScribe Plug-in. Subscribe allows you to straighten your
artwork quickly and perfectly in seconds. Take the guess-work out of drawing
circles and arcs exactly as you want them.
Corel Painter 2015
Painter
is a software painting program of great power with as many features as
Photoshop or Illustrator. With Painter
and a drawing tablet you can create paintings that come very close to the
actual process but with great flexibility.
You can choose
from an expansive collection of brushes and tools that push the envelope on
digital art. You can customize brushes exactly how you want them, control
pressure-sensitivity, and mix and experiment with media and methods in ways
that simply aren’t possible anywhere else.
Painter allows you
to easily transfer files to the Photoshop format and then use within
Photoshop. Since my ceramic color laser
decal printer receives files from Photoshop, I can print paintings made in
Painter as decals and then fire onto a ceramic surface.
Painter 2015
Painter 2015
Painter 2015
Painter 2015
Painted by Skip Allen in Painter 2015
VCarve
- VCarve Pro and VCarve Desktop provide a powerful but intuitive software solution
for cutting parts on a CNC Router. There are tools for 2D design and
calculation of 2D and 2.5D toolpaths and along with the ability to import and
toolpath a single 3D model (STL, OBJ etc.).
This software is used to design work to be created on the ShopBot
machines for carving and routing. I do
not own this software but access it through TechShop’s computers. http://www.vectric.com/products/vcarve.htm
FlowMaster
WaterJet Cutting Software - This software is necessary for use with
the Flow WaterJet Cutter and consists of two software modules: FlowPath and FlowCut. FlowPath is used to instruct the machine to
cut material that you have designed, usually using a different, vector-based
drawing program. With FlowPath you
select the cutting path of the WaterJet cutting head and also the rate of speed
and other controls. This modules are on
TechShop’s computers. http://www.flowwaterjet.com/en/waterjet-cutting/software/FlowMaster.aspx
Examples of Work
WaterJet Cut Porcelain Soldier for Veterans Project
Face tessellation created in Adobe Illustrator and cut on WaterJet cutter
Face tessellations assembled.
Created in Painter 2015
Tile designs created in Illustrator with SymmetryWorks
plug-in. Files then saved as .eps files and opened in Photoshop for printing on decal printer. They are sized to fit on standard tile sizes of 4" x 4", 4.25 x 4.25", 6" x 6", or 8" x 8". Custom sizes can also be done.
plug-in. Files then saved as .eps files and opened in Photoshop for printing on decal printer. They are sized to fit on standard tile sizes of 4" x 4", 4.25 x 4.25", 6" x 6", or 8" x 8". Custom sizes can also be done.
Andy Anderson's Horses. Scanned ink drawing into Photoshop. Image imported into Illustrator and manipulated with Symmetry Works. Imported back into Photoshop for decal printing.
Egyptian Woman.
Photograph of butterfly on red flower on tile.
MT watercolor on tile.
More to come.
