My two favorite tools for creating laser cutting files

Learning software for laser cutting can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.

In programs like Illustrator and Inkscape, you don’t need to master every tool to create stunning laser cutting files. Focus on these three essentials:

  • Shape Tools

  • Pencil Tool

  • Image Trace/Bitmap Trace

In this post, I’ll give you a sneak peek into two key tools we’ll explore in my upcoming workshop, The Layered Laser Cut— the Pencil Tool and Image Trace. These tools are ideal for those who prefer designing by hand rather than relying solely on digital methods.

The Pencil Tool

The Pencil Tool is a game-changer for tracing or drawing in Illustrator or Inkscape. It’s far more intuitive than the Pen Tool, which can be tricky to master.

For example, the layers in the shadow box design below started as a watercolor illustration. Whether you’re using a photograph, painting, or drawing as your base, the Pencil Tool makes it easy to bring your hand-drawn ideas to life.

In the workshop, you’ll learn to scan your artwork into Inkscape, trace it using the Pencil Tool, and then laser cut and assemble your shadow box. This process bridges the gap between traditional and digital art, allowing you to incorporate your preferred medium into your design.

 
Watercolor of a rabbit sitting on a mountain top looking at the moon.

Original watercolor

Hand-coloring laser cut pieces for shadow box

Tracing the image using the Pencil Tool

Gluing in the pieces of the shadow box.

Assembling shadow box

Laser cutting shadow box pieces in paper

Laser cut, hand-colored shadow box

Image Trace

If you’re more comfortable with hand-drawing or using programs like Procreate, Image Trace is a fantastic tool for converting your line art into a vector file. This tool simplifies the creation of vectors with minimal file work, making it perfect for those who want to focus on their artistic process rather than the technical details.

Drawing shadow box layers

Using Image Trace to turn drawing into a vector

Shadow box of a nuthatch sitting on a branch surrounded by leaves, laser cut colored paper

Laser cut shadow box

In The Layered Laser Cut, you’ll discover how laser cutting can streamline the creation of small editions and explore variations of your designs. You’ll also gain practical skills in operating the laser cutter, adjusting settings for different paper types, and troubleshooting common issues like burn marks.

Shadow box variations: hand-colored with colored pencils (left), colored paper (right)

Shadow box variations: raw Baltic birch (left), Hand-colored with watercolor (right)

 

The Layered Laser Cut

In-Person Workshop

Dates: January 28 - February 2, 2025

Location: North Country Studio Workshops at Bennington College

Discover the art of laser cutting through layered imagery in this hands-on workshop. You'll gain experience operating a laser cutter, expand your creative possibilities by fine-tuning settings, and learn insider techniques for cutting paper and wood. You'll design three personalized projects using Inkscape: play with color in a layered paper design, craft a three-dimensional hand-colored shadow box, and transform your paper shadow box into a wooden box.

Register: ncsw.org/laser-cutting

 
 
Sarah Pike