Getting started

[shalae]

I have turned on my Glowforge but would like to import a graphic to do my first print on hardwood but I do not see that option coming up on the App. How do i do that

[Jules]

The Glowforge team recommends working through your first prints by following along with the examples shown here to learn where everything is:

Bring your ideas to life.

Bring your ideas to life.

Bring your ideas to life.

They have also recently added instructions with video on using the Manual settings here:
Working with Manual Settings

And there are methods for Enhancing your Photo Engraves and Cutting Out a Shape as well.

(You can click on the topic headers in the left-hand column for even more information.)

That particular page is also handy if you have any problems to Troubleshoot and you can always access it by clicking on the Support button in the app.

Once you have run through the sample prints, some of the customers have put together some handy Tips sheets and a lot of tutorials in the Tips and Tricks section of the forum.

Some good ones to start with:

Laser Design Basics

Laser Design Basics.pdf (770.3 KB) dl488 9/6/17

Glowforge Interface - Using the Trace Tool

The Trace Tool in the Glowforge User Interface can be used to scan printed artwork for engraving, and to create cut lines around the artwork, or inside the artwork, by clicking with the mouse. There are a couple of ways to do things with the Trace Tool. (I’m going to borrow one of Glowforge’s freebies to demonstrate since my drawing skills are non-existent. I printed this airplane out - pretend it’s hand drawn.) Procedure To Scan a Physical Drawing and Add Cut Lines: Black ink d…

Glowforge Interface - Tips & Tricks for Using the App

The Dashboard: Sign in to app.glowforge.com [dashboard] Keyboard Shortcuts and Maneuvering in the Interface: Copy (Select item)… CTRL/CMD + C Paste (Select item)… CTRL/CMD + V Undo … CTRL/CMD + Z Delete (Select item) … Press the Delete key on the keyboard. Update on Delete: _After the Autosave Settings Saver migration on 01/08/2018, if you delete a part or item from your file it will stay gone when you close it. The next time you open the file, it will not be there. If you…

Glowforge Interface - How to Align a Double Sided Engrave

I’m going to demo an alignment process below using my (ancient) version of Adobe Illustrator, but the process is the same for Inkscape or CorelDraw or Affinity Designer. Whichever one you like to use, you’ll do the same things, with the tools in that program. (I’m also going to give you the thought process that goes into creating a design with 2D Design software, to keep from having to write another one up, so if you can slog through it, you’ll pick up some stuff you need to know to make thing…

Glowforge Interface - Vector Files Made Easy

It’s soooooo easy to create files easily in programs like Illustrator, Inkscape, CorelDraw and Affinity Designer if you understand what the Glowforge interface sees when it looks at your file. (Think of this as a last batch of Tips and Tricks, then I’ll quit bugging you.) I’m going to demo in Illustrator again, but the same things will be done in whatever program you choose to use for your designs. If you have questions about specifics for other kinds of drawing and modeling software, …

Glowforge Interface - Correctly Save a File as an SVG for the GFUI

For All Programs: If you want to engrave a bitmap (raster) style image and include it inside a vector SVG file, you need to Embed the image in the file if you want it to stay aligned inside the SVG file. Otherwise you will need to re-load the raster file and use the camera to align it visually. (That’s fine, but you will completely lose the benefit of more accurate alignment that you get from the design software.) There are instructions for how to Embed raster images for some of the main 2D…

Have fun!

[marmak3261]

How did you do on your first prints? Did you ever get to upload any artwork? Two places, one in the main design folder space using the upload button on the upper left and the other in the operations space by clicking on the add artwork. You get to the operations space by simply clicking on a preloaded design.

[Rita]

Thanks @Jules – that’s a fantastic list!

@shalae, for a very specific answer to your question:

1. Go to https://app.glowforge.com and sign in.
2. Click the “Upload” button and choose your file.

If you have more questions or run into any trouble, please open a new thread.