Sometimes we forget how awesome laser
cutters really are. After all, they’re essentially giant plotters that shoot
infrared lasers to cut and engrave almost anything. Most of the time, we’ll use
the cutting feature in order to make rapid prototypes for different projects. We
might engrave a logo or text on there too — but with a bit of image
pre-processing, you can actually etch grey scale images that look really good.
has been experimenting with
different processes to get the best engraving, and he’s decided to share his
findings. He’s created a guide on Instructables, and it’s a pretty quick read.
You’re going to need some image editing software, for which recommends Gimp — as do we.
From there it’s just a matter of a few
steps to simplify the image. Start by converting the image to indexed colors —
this limits the number of colors the image can have, he recommends limiting to
about 4 colors for now. From there, convert to grey scale and import into your
favorite laser software. Now it’s time to start testing.
laser settings Depending on your laser
cutter, the image, and type of material your engraving, you’re likely going to
have to do a whole set of different tests, adjusting the settings as you go.
To make this easier for yourself, it helps
to throw in some text to indicate what settings you used. That way once you’re
done, you can look through all the samples and pick your favorite.
And that’s about it! You should probably
bookmark his guide though, as he’s planning on adding some advanced techniques
in the near future, including adding some detail back using vector lines.
HAN'S LASER CORP.
2220 O'Toole Ave,San Jose, CA 95131
Phone: (+1) 408-774-9428
Fax: (+1) 669-900-4570
Email: laser@hanslaser.com
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