3D Printed Map of Your City on T-shirt

I've always been fascinated by the countless spots all over the world that left a mark on you after your stay there. With this project I wanted somehow to capture that special moment by giving them a place on our favorite T-shirts.

You may choose your home town or country, or that place that made you fall in love last holiday. I'll explain you how to transform the streets of that city (or the whole country) into a printable deign so that you can wear it!

Software:

• Google Earth

• Adobe Illustrator

• Tinkercad

• Ultimaker Cura

Materials:

• 3D plastic filament (PLA/TPU)

• Fabric Glue (or sewing kit for a stronger result)

• Baking paper and scissors

Optional:

• Water-proof painting

Open Google Earth (or any other map service of your choice) and select a suitable location you want to turn into a 3D model.

Make sure you use the right zoom and orientation settings in order to obtain a detailed view. I used the simplified map view so that no names or data appear on the image. Then, take a screenshot.

Open the screenshot on Adobe Illustrator (or any other design software) and start plotting!

1. Draw the pocket size (shown in yellow color). You'll find the final dimensions in the next step.
2. Then, use the drawing tool to mark the significant areas you want make visible on your design (shown in white color).
3. Once you're done save you file in .svg format.

Import your .svg file to Tinkercad and resize the drawing to you desired dimension. I recommend no to use a taller height of 1mm. (My dimensions are shown in the picture)

Now you can add some extra details, such as the city name or a compass drawing.

Tip: if you want to sew the design remember to add some little holes to make this task easier.

Open your slicing software (this time I used Ultimaker Cura), as you can see in the picture no special settings are needed (190ºC/85ºC and 0.2mm layer).

I mirrored the drawing to use the bed layer as frontal view.

I ran out of TPU filament so I chose PLA for printing the design as it is also thin and flexible enough to manipulate when sticking to the T-shirt.

You can also try with TPU as its flexibility will help you if you want your design to be sewed. Sewing will give you a stronger bonding.

I chose to use a special fabric glue for sticking the 3D printed piece to the T-shirt.

Cut some baking paper and put it between the fabric layers so that they don't bond together.

Stick the plastic piece to the T-shirt and follow the manufacturer instructions.

Now you are ready to wear this unique T-shirt!

The possibilities are limitless! Try with new designs as wholes countries or continents!

Here I show you a different design using some water-proof painting and stuck to a polo shirt.