By 2024, laser engraving machine technology has largely replaced the old traditional technology used by the DIY industry. This is due to two reasons: consistent results in a shorter time, and high precision in case of safe operation. With the rise of laser technology, the skill of creating laser engraving digital files is catching on, as people are now more interested in designing their creative style rather than buying overpriced crafts; Therefore, many people are looking for how to make the best laser engraving files.
Here's our 101 guide to the basics of this segment, software options, and how to make laser engraving files for best results if you're just starting with laser cutters and engraving machines:
Software option
CorelDRAW: Undoubtedly one of the most popular software for laser engraving machines, thanks to its feature-rich and time-proven capabilities for a variety of crafting projects. The software is beginner-friendly and offers options for professionals as well.
Adobe Illustrator: It is one of the most popular applications for making vector designs; It provides the best fine tools for making complex works of art. Almost all laser cutters and engraving machines are compatible with AI-generated files.
Inkscape: For those willing to use free software, Inkscape can perform many of the functions that Illustrator and CorelDRAW do, and works with most laser engraving machines devices.
Inspiraesth: A powerful software with an Ortur laser cutter and engraver, optimized to create DIY designs in the most common formats, very friendly for beginners.
2. Common formats
When it comes to laser engraving machine files, there are two types of files (not to be confused with formats); One is vector files and the other is raster images. A vector file consists of a number path within an image. This allows for a clean and extensible design that is more practical when editing these files. This ability makes them great for line art, logos, and simple shapes.
The second type is raster files, which are made up of pixels and are best for taking detailed images, such as photos. But these need to be handled carefully, as they are easily pixelated when sculpting. Now that you know the basics, here are the most commonly used file formats for laser engraving:
SVG: Scalable vector graphics file format is the most commonly used format for laser engraving and cutting machine vector design. With. In SVG laser engraving files, the quality of the picture does not vary with the size of the image, which makes it very useful in this industry.
PDF: The portable document format is similar to other commonly used file formats and can accommodate vector and raster information, which makes it very useful in laser engraving machines processes.
DXF: The graphics interchange format is more suitable for CAD graphics and is often used for laser engraving using architectural or mechanical images.
AI: The Adobe Illustrator file format is very common because many laser engravers can work directly with Illustrator files, which makes the design and production process very convenient.
3. How to make laser engraving files
a. First set the canvas size, which should be the same as the material to be carved on the laser bed. For example, if you are carving a piece of wood that measures 10X10 ", then the design canvas for your laser engraving file should also be 10X10 "in size
b. Next, the text in the design is first rasterized, and then the text is transformed into an outline, thus transforming it into an outline. This ensures that the laser engraver treats the text as an object.
c. Most laser engraving machine devices interpret the color in the design file as the direction of the engraving depth on the substrate. For example, a red line can be interpreted as a specific surface area that must be laser cut, and the back can signal engraving instead of cutting. Always check the color coding Settings on the laser cutter.
4. Tips for getting the best results
One of the most common errors in such files is that novices use the wrong laser Settings, i.e. they may set high power or high speed, resulting in burns or misalignment of incisions. It is best to start with lower Settings and gradually adjust them until the desired effect is achieved.
We always recommend starting with a test cut and cutting on scrap to avoid any damage to the primed surface to be cut/carved. Thin lines in such design files may not be sculpted correctly, and lines that are too thick may significantly lose detail in the final print. Find an intermediate point based on your laser Settings. If there is text in the design, consider inserting appropriate spacing so that the result is not too crowded.
Ortu LM