Circuit material provided by: AgIC

The term drawing is applied to works that vary greatly in technique. This tutorial will show how to draw a simple character design with markers adding electrically conductive materials and electronics. We will use copper tape and the AgIC’s circuit marker that contains silver, which makes the ink conductive, turning the paper into an electric circuit.The goal of this tutorial is offer you and introduction of novel materials and electronics concepts for you explore new forms of creative expression through soft circuits.

Character design is always a lot of imagination and its uses are extremely diverse, almost every area of design can benefit from it. The better you understand the techniques the easier it will be for you implement them and mark your creativity.

MATERIALS:

AgIC Kit
Double sided tape
Magnets
Paper
Gomets
Cardboard
Small piece of wood
Cube beads
Color Markets
Copper tape
Hot Glue Gun
Craft Knife

Step 1: Creating Two Simple Characters Design With an Integrated Soft Circuit.

It’s necessary to know what would be the drawing like before starting adding light and electronics components to the paper. Also, it’s Important to decide ahead if the circuit will be connected in series or connected in parallel. (In a parallel circuit, the electrical current flows along several paths, and each individual device is hooked up to its own circuit. The advantage to a parallel circuit is that if one device malfunctions, the flow of electricity will not stop, as it would in a series circuit)

I would advice you to do a circuit exercise on paper, with a battery and a single LED. Take your time to understand the systems and remember to take into consideration the concepts about soft circuits.

Step 2: Connect the Components Together

When choosing the option of parallel circuit, the color LED positives (+) side needs to be attached to the (+) side of the battery and the(–) side needs to be attached to the( –) side of the battery for the LED to turn on. A parallel circuit is a circuit in which there are at least two independent paths in the circuit to get back to the source.

The electrical connections between LEDs will be drawn with Agic silver ink. Keep in mind that when you use conductive ink electricity becomes a medium of the visual arts. To secure the battery and create electrical connections between the ink and the 3V battery we will be using copper or aluminum tape. Once everything is put together, That’s it!

Step 3: Making a Switch!

In a parallel circuit, the current will flow through the closed paths and not through the open paths . In order to achieve a parallel circuit in your drawing, you would need an open path in the conductive circuit.To do the open path in your drawing all you need is to erase that path with the AgIC Circuit Eraser. When creating soft circuits, it’s possible to replace traditional electronics switches for other conductive materials. For example, It’s possible to do excellent switches out of magnets .

Step 4: Be Creative!

After the circuit is finished, you are now ready to complete your drawing. To do so, you could use all sort of materials (gomets, glitter, color pencils …), absolutely anything you like.

Once you are done, you should cover the back of your drawing to hide the battery and the magnet from behind. You could also make a cardboard stand where you could nicely present your drawing.