How to prepare your files for feeding into the laser program to engrave

Note: the laser machine can only burn into or through material. Also, the beam can only be made to follow straight or curved paths or to burn a grid of dots (a bitmap image). There is no way for the laser to represent color.

● Scanned Image Engraving

The image is engraved by the laser machine line by line, point by point, similar to the way in which an inkjet printer applies ink, but instead of ink being applied, material is removed pixel by pixel by the laser.

Scenario 1:

If the picture is a color image, it will automatically turn into grayscale after importing into RDworks.
some trouble of laser engraver
RDworks will recognize darker areas as engraving areas, and lighter areas will not engrave; if perform the picture directly, many details of the picture will disappear, like below.

some trouble of laser engraver
Solution:
Please convert the image into a 1-bit Windows bitmap (BMP) image where you will only have black and white pixels available to you. In RDworks, you can use “Bitmap handle” tool, like below.
some trouble of laser engraver

Resolution (pixels/inch): 1500;——Keep that value.
Frequency: 60~80;

Note: Images for laser engraving should generally have a resolution of at least 300dpi as the output size. In RDwroks, you can check it from the BMP window, like below.

some trouble of laser engraver

Scenario 2:

If the picture is a black and white image, it can be performed directly; if desired, you can make invert for the image, like below.
some trouble of laser engraversome trouble of laser engraver

 

● Vector-Based Engraving

The closed vector object is engraved by the laser machine line by line in their filled area.

Scenario 1:
A closed vector can be engraved, like below.
some trouble of laser engraver
An Open vector cannot be engraved, like below.
some trouble of laser engraver 

Solution
In Rdworks, you can use “Curve auto close” tool to close the open vector, like below.

some trouble of laser engraver

Scenario 2:
When the vectors nested each other, the overlapping area will have different results, like below:
some trouble of laser engraversome trouble of laser engraver

Solution
In CorelDRAW, you can use “Weld” tool to merge objects into one, like below.
some trouble of laser engraver
some trouble of laser engraversome trouble of laser engraver

 

Scenario 3:
If two objects have overlapped path, they will disappear and not be able to engrave, like below.

some trouble of laser engraversome trouble of laser engraversome trouble of laser engraver
    One object        Two objects overlap     Three objects overlap

 

Solution
In Rdworks, you can use “Delete overlap” tool to delete all overlapped paths, like below.
some trouble of laser engraver

End.