Short guide to the use of laser cutting machines/Laboratory/Conversion of photographs into vector images for laser cutting

Photographs can be used to generate vector images for laser engraving in diverse materials, to do this will be require to use the trace path in the vector graphics editor software used, and then print the image in the laser cutting machine.

Illustrator

1.- Load the image in illustrator.

2.- Select image trace option:

For this, click on windows, windows menu and image trace. In the upper menu (below main menu) choose the option for tracing 16 colors, silhouette or grays, the image will be vectorized. Depending on the type of image one or other option could be more convenient.

Other options or tools that can be using to facilitate this process:

Ruler: Click view ruler: View, ruler.

Change the size of the image, for this resize: Window, transform and choose size of wide or height. Could be convenient to resize after the image has been converter to a vector image to have a more clear image.

Rotate: Double click to rotate icon and choose angle. Select the desired angle for rotation, 90, 180, 270, etc. Or rotate with the mouse without choosing the angle.

3.- Choose a stroke lower than 0.72, for example 0.01 or 0.02, the lowest the faster the engraving takes, print the image.

4.- Select the material, thickness of the material, and engrave the image.

Inkscape

To vectorize an image with Inkscape select the following options: From the path menu choose the option Trace bitmap, the the option brightness cutoff, and select multiple scans (by colors 8 or 20).

The option object un-group, This will create 8 or 20 (depending the number of color selected), it will be 20 layers to choose between the parts, they will be overlay one over each one, they will be vectors.

If the options Path, un-group are selected, each layer can be moved to seen separated and be used or deleted. For logos or simple design can be selected 2 colors to separate use 2 (or 4 or 8) for logos. Move all not needed, leave the image or images that represent the desired image to use. Then can close path, and select image size to change its size and save it as svg, this image can also be seen in illustrator or be used in laser cutting machines.

Other useful options are outside edge e inside edge, these can be erased, and the option simplify to remove the number of dots.

The different colors allow to control and choose the order in which the object will be cut.

Select path option, trace.

Materials to use

Wood, plywood, acrylic and other materials could be used to engrave photographs on them.

Thickness of the materials

For engraving could be recommended to use materials less thick than the maximum cutting capacity of the laser cutting machines, this will also allow to cut the material if desired.

If the intention is to cut the engrave and cut the material, a material with thickness lower than the maximum capacity of the laser cutting machine is recommended.

Cutting materials thicker than the maximum capacity of the laser cutting machine

Since photography’s re not used to cut, a material bigger than the maximum size for cutting could be used. If the color of the objects is black, the objects will be engraved.

Warning: Materials thicker than the laser cutting machine maximum capacity for cutting tend to burn, it is not recommended to use thicker materials for cutting.

Setting up the laser cutting machine

First measure the thickness of the material and write it down.

Level the bed of the laser cutting machine.

Turn on the air filter before start engraving.

1. Once the image is generated or traced using Illustrator or Inkscape, print it, open the laser cutting machine software.

2. Select the material used and enter the thickness of the material. If the material is thicker and you accept the warning press O.K. and be sure that no 0.72 or red colors are used in the image in case a material thicker than the maximum capacity of the laser cutting is used.

3.- During the process select the ratio of engraving and raster desired. Also can be selected the lever of power used in black color, and the speed used.

Image engraving

Photographs and many other images can be engraved in many materials using laser cutting machines.

The time that can take to engrave an image could depend of its size, it could take between 5 to 30 minutes to engrave an image.

The power for raster or engraving can be increased, the amount of power used can affect the result, sometimes could be useful to use higher power in other occasions could be convenient use less power to increase contrast.

Engraving a picture can take around 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the picture.

Text addition

Text can be added to the material, during or after the engraving of the image. Open Illustrator or Inkscape, select the text tool and type the text, choose the size and use black color.

The area of the text can be selected in order to keep it in a particular section, then the text can be typed or pasted, and the font changed to the size that fit your area or the size that fits better in your project.

Print the image, and open the laser cutting software to see in what part is printed, if is located in the wrong area, move and reprint the image until is placed in the desired section.

A title can added add the top or a signature can be added at the bottom of the image during the same step or after adding other texts to the image. If is added after the text is added, print again the new text and place it in the area that you intent to see in your project and run the raster of the image.

The time for text raster or engraving is lower, can vary from a few seconds to 5 or more minutes depending in the amount and size of the text.

Cutting the material

When the materials are previously cut, this step is not necessary.

When the materials do not have the desired shape, can be cut in the desired shape using any desired form with a red line and 0.072 stroke, this can be done before or after adding the image to the material, if the material is less thick than the maximum capacity of the laser cutting machine. The shape to cut must have stroke of 0.072 inches size and a red color (FF0000), the image in illustrator must use RGB color, with Inkscape RGB color can be changed other color mode in the same project.

Engraving images, text and other elements could be are added to the material first, or both steps could be done at the same time.

Creating a shape for the image

Images can be cut in a desired shape, for this, click in the shape tools, choose a shape and add it to the image, select both images, clic in the object menu, clipping mask, make.

Adding frames to images

Frames can be added to pictures or images, they can be a square or a frame created or downloaded from free svg images websites, open the frame with photoshop, copy the frame, add it to the other photoshop file, and move and resize until both are align, with the proper size and ready to print or cut.

Image enhancement

In the laser cutter machines software, images can be enhanced, a manual option can be choose, and the contrast, definition and density could be increased. Increasing the contrast can make skin tones and hair look alike, it is recommended in faces to have a lower contrast.

See also

Short guide to the use of laser cutting machines/Use of Inkscape for Laser Cutting

Short guide to the use of laser cutting machines/Use of Adobe Illustrator for Laser Cutting