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PART 1: ILLUSTRATOR

Draw yourself as a vector Caricature

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Examples

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Examples

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Examples

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STEP 1 (Photo)

Take a Photo of yourself.�You can use Photobooth, your iPad, or your phone. If you use your iPad or phone, you will need to email yourself the photo.�
Yes, you must draw yourself!�Note: If you have glasses, take one photo with and one without.

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STEP 2 (New Document)�

Create a new Illustrator Document. �Note: Photobooth photos are 15” x 10”.�
Place your photo in the document as a template. Uncheck the Link box and Check the Template Box.

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STEP 3 (Eye)�

Concentrate on just one eye.�
Zoom in close.

Draw a circle for the pupil, a circle for the iris, and an “almond” shape for the eye.�
I recommend using .25pt stroke weight for accuracy.

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STEP 4 (Eye)�

Select all paths with the Selection Tool.�
Choose the Shape Builder Tool.�
Click on the shapes you want to remove.�
Deselect all shapes (using the Selection Tool).�
Select the shapes you want removed and press Delete.

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STEP 5 (Eye)�

Add Color:

Fill the Pupil with Black.

Fill the Iris with a color or a gradient. See example → ��
Fill the eye shape with white or a gradient. See example →

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STEP 5 (Eye)�

Add Detail:

Add highlights
Add eyelashes (use Width Tool) - can sometimes look very feminine, so if you are not looking for that, consider a dark shadow where the eyelashes are.

(Note: you can Option + Drag to move a copy of the eyelash)

Add creases (use Width Tool)
Add shadows
Draw Eyebrows
Other details? See the star in the iris? Other details?

Note: if you have glasses you can work on those anytime.

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STEP 6 (2nd Eye)�

Delay this step until you are SUPER happy with your first eye.�
Select all of your Eye, Copy, Paste, Reflect, move to the other side. You may need to rotate slightly.

Name this layer Eyes and Lock it.�

Note: Zoom out and look at yourself, it’s very creepy!

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STEP 7 (Mouth)

Create a new Layer for the mouth.

If your mouth is open → �Draw the top lip as one shape�Draw the bottom lip as one shape�Draw your teeth as one

If your mouth is closed → �Draw the top and bottom lip separately so they can have separate fill colors��Or draw lips as one shape with a dark shadow in between.��Or Draw as shadows

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STEP 8 (Mouth Color)

Add Color.�
You can use a gradient�
A natural looking color is your skin color plus some magenta and a little bit of yellow and black.

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STEP 9 (Nose)

Bare minimum → Draw Nostrils (inside and outside) and a line for the bridge of your nose. See Bitmoji examples

Or, you can use those lines as edges of a shadow or highlight shape.

You can use Effect → Stylize → Feather to soften the edges of a shadow as well as lower the opacity.

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STEP 10 (Face & Skin Tone)

Create a new layer for your face. It should be below the eyes and the mouth.

Draw the outline of your head. If you can see your ears, ignore them for now. �Note: Keep in mind that your hair will overlap with your head.

Choose a skin color: �Window → Swatches�Menu → Open Swatch Library → Skintones �(see screenshot to the right →)

Fill the outline of your head with a skin tone that is similar to yours.�Note: You can fill your mouth with your skintone + a little Black (K) and a little Magenta (M) using the Color Panel (Window → Color).

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STEP 11 (Face & Skin Tone)

Add any creases, highlights, shadows, etc…�These should be colored the same as your skintone + a little Black (K) and a little Yellow (Y)

Use the gradient mesh tool to add VERY SUBTLE highlights, pink on cheeks, etc… You can also darken the edges a bit to give dimension, I didn’t on mine yet.

+ Magenta

- all colors to make it lighter

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STEP 12 (Hair)

Find hair similar to yours online and trace it or trace your own hair.
Add highlights as shown in the examples:

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STEP 13 (Details)

Now it’s time to trace the details that are unique to you. Some examples include:

Glasses
Ears (are yours showing?)
Freckles
Moles
Birthmarks
Jewelry
Hat
Shadows
Highlights
Facial Hair
Etc ...

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STEP 14 (Body)

Find a body online.�
Use *dare I say it?* Image Trace!�
Connect it to your body

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PART 2: ILLUSTRATOR

Preparing your file as a Print/Cut EPS

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STEP 1

Save your Caricature.�
Then, Save As, and name it something different. ��This is so you have two versions of the caricature. The steps in this section will make your caricature un-editable, so you want to keep a copy of the original.

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STEP 2

Select your Artboard Tool.

In the Properties Panel, change the width to 15 inches and the height to 20 inches.

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STEP 3

Select your Caricature.

In the Properties Panel, turn on Scale Stroke & Effects and turn on Scale Corners.�
Resize your Caricature to fit the Artboard.

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STEP 4

Go to Window → Swatches.

Click the “Create New Swatch” button.�
Set your up exactly like this, then press OK:

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STEP 5

Select any Gradient Mesh Objects.�
Go to Object → Path → Offset Path.�
Set the Offset amount to 0, press OK.

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STEP 6

Select your Caricature.�
Go to Object → Expand Appearance.

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STEP 7

Create a New Layer.�
Select your Caricature.�
Choose Edit → Copy.�
Make the New Layer active.�
Choose Edit → Paste.�
Move the second caricature to the side.

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STEP 8

Select the second caricature.�
In the Properties Panel, choose the Unite Pathfinder.

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STEP 9

Using the Direct Selection Tool, move the outer contour line off to the side.�
Go to View → Outline.�
Delete any unnecessary paths.�
Go to View → Preview.

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STEP 10

Select your contour line.�
Choose a Fill of None.�
Choose CutContour as the Stroke Color.

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STEP 11

Select the Selection Tool.�
In the Properties Panel, turn on Snap to Point.�
Grab the contour line on an anchor point, and line it up with the same anchor point on your Caricature.

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STEP 12

In the Layers Panel, lock and hide the layer with your contour line.�
Select your Caricature.�
Go to Object → Flatten Transparency.�
Match yours to the screenshot below. Click OK.

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STEP 13

In the Layers Panel, unlock and unhide (show) the layer with your contour line.�
Hide all the other layers.�
Select the Contour Line.�
Go to Object → Offset Path. Use these setting:

Offset: .25 in
Joint: Round
Miter Limit: 4

Delete any unnecessary paths.

Unhide (Show) all layers.

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STEP 14

Choose File → Save As.�
Change the format to Illustrator EPS.�
Save it to your desktop as “YourName.eps”.

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PART 3: ROLAND VERSACAMM VP540i

Wide Format Inkjet Printer

w/Contour Cutting

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STEP 1

Roll back any excess material by pressing the Up Arrow.

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STEP 2

Press Function. Press Enter.

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STEP 3

Using a USB Flash Drive, transfer your EPS file to the Roland VersaCAMM computer.�
Drag your file from your USB to the Caricature folder.

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STEP 4

Open Roland VersaWorks.�
Drag your EPS file from the Caricature folder to Job Queue A or B of the Roland VersaCAMM.

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STEP 5

Check that Special Items “A” is showing up. If it isn’t get Ms. Smith’s attention. It it is, continue on to the next step.

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STEP 6

Double click on your file in the Job Queue to open the Job Settings.�
Click “Get Media Width”.�
Change the Height to 12 in.�
Click “Center on the Media”.�
Click on the Quality Tab.

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STEP 7

Select “DigiMag 30M” as the Media Type.�
Click OK

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STEP 8

Drag your file from the Job Queue to Print Status.�
Wait for it to Print and Cut.

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STEP 9

Use the Sheet Cut Function on the VersaCAMM

Press Function → Down → Down → Enter

Make sure you are holding the magnet so it doesn’t fall on the floor!

View the video for more details.

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NOTES FOR MS. SMITH

Material:

DigiMag
Profile for material
Look for 20 mil DigiMag next time, 30 mil is a little too thick

Printer Settings:

Change the cutting pressure of the knife to 300gf
Go to Menu → Cutting Menu → Print/Cut Adj → Settings → Set F to -2.00mm
Sheet cut works!
Move the wheels and rollers in about 3 inches from each end.�

Other

Only print one at a time.