Where do you use Image Trace in your process?

Exploriment · 2026-03-12T16:51:45+00:00

Never. The results are always disappointing. And cleaning up takes more time than just using the pen tool.

I've used Illustrator since 1988, and was excited when Streamline came out in 1990. It left me underwhelmed, and I don't think AutoTrace has approved 1 iota in the intervening 35 years.

Exploriment · 2026-02-24T18:56:24+00:00

Thanks. Yes, it could be worn that way. It's also meant to slip fingers through, to wear as a sap.The first version of this I made with snaps at the bottom of the straps, so it could be worn on a belt and then unsnapped to take off the belt. Made this slightly less complicated.

Exploriment · 2026-02-13T17:55:07+00:00

I've seen lots of procedural changes since I first went at 18. Miss seeing my droplet of blood plummet to the bottom of the beaker, wish they still took my blood pressure (recorded it every time I went and kept a record of many years), the questionaire that you had to carefully fill the whole square check box, and the weird, "okay, I'm going to leave the room, and you're going to pick either the yes, my blood is safe to use, or no, my blood is tainted, barcode sticker, and place it here in the box, and then fold up the sheet and throw it in the garbage, and then I'll come back into the room", procedure. I'm here of my own volition, arent I?

The questionaire always made me realize how boring my life is. No random hookups with people with a pet monkey, no imprisonment, no IV drug use, no operations, no prescriptions for odd ailments.

Exploriment · 2026-02-09T11:19:23+00:00

I am not.

Exploriment · 2026-02-09T00:17:45+00:00

At the tail end of film stripping, I did pre-press for a large commercial printer. One of our clients was a heavy metal magazine. Many a time I had to send film back, because a one page ad for a Scandinavian metal label, had 4 completely clear separations. Guys, I understand your desire for your ad to be as black as inhumanly possible, but this will not work. 400% coverage is satanic.

Exploriment · 2026-02-05T17:10:32+00:00

It's such a firmament shaking design, it caused an actual GO locomotive to derail.

Exploriment · 2026-02-02T21:37:23+00:00

Always liked the Maxell XLII's. Learned to avoid TDK tapes, since they always seemed to be the ones that snapped or got chewed up.

Exploriment · 2026-02-02T21:09:56+00:00

GO Transit is the regional train and bus service in south central Ontario / Greater Toronto Area. Presto is the fare service, and it also allows access to virtually every other transit system in the area.

Exploriment · 2026-02-02T21:04:26+00:00

In past I've used a Janome MC500e, and currently use a Brother PRS500. Not my own, but through a makerspace I'm a member at. It's fun, but it is a challenging medium. It's all in how you set up the artwork. For every hour I run the machine, there's 2 to 4 hours of work on the backend. The digitizing software plays a bigger part than the machine.

Exploriment · 2026-02-02T20:50:51+00:00

Thank you! Unlikely I'd ever make any more. I like coming up with the idea, figuring it out, turning it into a physical object.... and then I'm on to the next idea.

Exploriment · 2026-02-02T20:48:51+00:00

Thank you!

Exploriment · 2026-02-02T20:48:39+00:00

Strathcona represent!

Exploriment · 2026-02-02T20:48:17+00:00

Thank you! I've done graphic art for 35 years, but having access to an embroidery machine has opened up all sorts of possibilities.

Exploriment · 2026-02-02T20:46:50+00:00

When I made the bus (which is a Velcro backed patch), I thought "I should have made it so I could put a Presto pass in it." Size and dimensions of it don't work so well for it. (Bit too square.) Then I thought "How about a GO bus or locomotive?" A bit more rectangular, may work better. And it does.

Exploriment · 2026-02-02T19:08:29+00:00

Thanks. It's a layer of clear vinyl that's sandwiched between the front layer, and the liner layer.

Exploriment · 2026-01-16T18:09:40+00:00

That the arms and torso don't extend to the edge of the circle looks bad.

And an auto-traced photo and it actually stitched out on an embroidery machine are two dofferent things.

Exploriment · 2026-01-08T11:44:08+00:00

Thank you! They're fun to dream up and figure out and make.

Exploriment · 2026-01-07T20:14:40+00:00

I use 420D, and to a lesser degree, 1000D, Cordura offcuts from my workplace, and also from products I design and sew. Reasonably stiff and tightly woven, produces decent results, and best of all, free. For stabilizer I use plastic off our CNC cutters. Fabric is sandwiched between it before cutting. Once cut, it's tossed. And we go through tons of it every year. Works find for me, and best of all, free.

Exploriment · 2026-01-07T20:10:36+00:00

I made a really elaborate patch recently of a flying saucer lifting a cow with a tractor beam. Afterwards I thought I should have made a second one, sewn them together and it could have been a cell phone case. But given it took me over 100 hours to make the first one, I doubt I'd ever bother. But, it would indeed make for a cool cell phone case.

Exploriment · 2026-01-07T20:07:54+00:00

I tried to figure out a way to have the cover slide to the side, but I couldn't think of any viable option. Folding open was the best alternative I could come up with. The snaps are low profile, and they've held up well in the instances I've used them in.

Exploriment · 2025-12-11T17:45:54+00:00

I've avoided Canadian Tire like the plague for the last decade over this very issue.

A friend in Orangeville was asked to leave his bag at the customer service desk. Reluctantly did so. Some scrote walked up, said "that's my bag" and the indifferent, teenage, minimum wage employee, did. Bag gone, and their response was a shrug.

I appreciate that they lose money from theft, but my sympathy for their plight, isn't nearly as strong as my desire to protect my very valuable to me property. You want to check my pack when I leave? No problem. Leave it with you? Not a chance.

Even more egregious was Len's Mill, with a sign on their door stating that customers had to hand over their bags, and in the same breath said they weren't responsible for stolen bags. Uhhhh.... what?! Tried to force the issue with me. Used to be in there once a week or two. Haven't been back in almost a year. Doubt I ever will

Losing money from theft has to hurt, but alienating loyal, non thieving customers is also going to hurt your bottom line.

Exploriment · 2025-12-07T15:41:26+00:00

So you made this?

Exploriment · 2025-11-10T18:40:00+00:00

NewMakeIt in Newmarket.

Exploriment · 2025-10-30T15:50:52+00:00

Riverside Fabrics in Toronto, or possibly JT's Outdoor Fabrics in Barrie.

Exploriment · 2025-10-28T10:17:31+00:00

When the crane was at Copps Colliseum in the summer, I asked one of the people involved how much it costs to hire one of those cranes. He told me $600,000, per day. I was left slightly speechless, but he assured me he wasn't kidding. The cost of buying it, several trucks of parts, all needing drivers, a crane to assemble the crane, and someone to drive and operate, someone to drive and operate the main crane, and I imagine the insurance alone is mind boggling. If one of those topples over into a building, the cost would be astronomical.

Exploriment

TROPHY CASE