🎯 Objective & Materials

By the end of this activity, you will have designed a vector keychain in Adobe Illustrator that is ready for laser cutting. Your design will include your initials and a simple shape, saved in the correct file format.

📦 What you need:

Computer with Adobe Illustrator installed    Adobe Illustrator Basic Tools Cheat Sheet    Pencil sketch of your design idea (see Part 1)

✏️ Part 1: Plan Your Design

Before opening Illustrator, sketch your keychain idea below. Your design must fit within 50mm × 50mm and include:

✔ Your initials    ✔ A simple shape (star, heart, koru, etc.)    ✔ A small hole for the keyring (approx. 5mm diameter, near the top)

💻 Part 2: Step-by-Step in Adobe Illustrator

Follow each step below. Tick the box when you have completed it. Use your cheat sheet if you get stuck!

Step 1 — Set up your document

Open Illustrator → File > New → Set width and height to 50mm × 50mm → Click OK.

Step 2 — Create your keychain outline

Use the Shape Tool (rectangle, ellipse, or polygon) to draw your keychain outline. Keep it within the artboard.

🟡 Beginner tip: Hold Shift while dragging to make a perfect square or circle.

🔵 Advanced tip: Use the Pen Tool to create a custom outline shape (e.g., a koru or star).

Step 3 — Add the keyring hole

Select the Ellipse Tool (L) → Hold Shift and draw a small circle (approx. 5mm) near the top of your design.

Centre the hole horizontally: select both shapes → Window > Align → click Horizontal Align Centre.

Step 4 — Add your initials or design

Use the Text Tool (T) to type your initials, OR use the Pen Tool to draw a simple design.

If using text: go to Type > Create Outlines to convert text to vector paths.

🟡 Beginner tip: Keep your initials large and bold so they are clear when laser engraved.

🔵 Advanced tip: Try combining your initials with a decorative Matariki-inspired pattern inside your shape.

Step 5 — Set up layers for laser cutting

Open the Layers panel (Window > Layers).

Rename Layer 1 to "Cut Lines" — this is your keychain outline and hole (no fill, 0.01pt stroke).

Add a new layer called "Engrave" — move your initials/design to this layer.

💡 Why layers matter: The laser cutter reads cut lines and engraving lines separately. Cut lines tell it where to cut; engrave lines tell it where to etch the surface.

Step 6 — Check and export your file

Check all shapes are vector paths (no raster/bitmap images).

Remove any fill colour from cut lines — stroke only, set to 0.01pt.

Save as: File > Save As → choose SVG or DXF format.

🔵 Advanced tip: Export a PDF proof to double-check your design looks correct before sending to the laser cutter.

🪞 Part 3: Reflection

🌟 Extension Challenge: If you finished early, try adding a Matariki-inspired pattern (e.g., a koru or star cluster) to your engraving layer. How does this connect your design to its cultural context?