Help designing a LAYERED svg

[douglas135]

I’m trying to make my own svgs but can’t seem to comprehend the 3d effect or stacking design.

[evansd2]

Do you have an example of the sort of thing you’re trying to make?

[douglas135]

This is just being used as an example , but like this picture. To be able to interchange objects and have that pop effect.

[CMadok]

I usually start with a drawing of what I want to make, completely flat with all the components in place. Then from there I decide what will be the base, which is usually the outline of the whole image, and mentally building it up layer by layer-it takes a plan.

From there, I take each of the elements I want, and create a separate part…for me, it’s a lot of duplicating and moving bits, though I always keep my first drawing there, and the original details I usually keep in place with score lines to help me with alignment…this probably isn’t helpful at all the way I’m explaining it… But it will be project dependent-and it’s like building a house in my mind, you need a strong foundation/base to hold everything, and the details get added from there… Here are a couple examples of some random layered projects I had. Each piece, the furniture components are part of the frame layers that I build up on top of each other.

I don’t have time right now, otherwise I’d make a short video for you. But it is really just taking your base image, and for everything you want to stand out, make a copy of it and move it off to the side to cut separately.

[douglas135]

Thank you so much. It’s starting to make sense.

[deirdrebeth]

If you do your initial layers out of paper, it both cuts very quickly, and doesn’t cause heartache when you throw bits away

When you think you’ve got a “final” cut it from cardboard - it’s close enough to the width of 1/8 material you’ll get a good idea.

Then cut it out of wood!

I also find that painting the layers before gluing them together is often way easier.

[dklgood]

Welcome to the forum.

For any successful project there are at least two key elements - the mechanics and the vision. For help with the mechanics, I suggest you look through the Glowforge catalog free with premium designs. There are a few layer/interchangeable designs that have been tested by others so you won’t have to tweak so much. Make a couple of those items so you see how things work. You can then bring your own inspiration to designs using similar techniques.

[douglas135]

Thanks everyone for all your help.

[trually]

For any design that you are testing, I HIGHLY recommend starting with a cheap material - even cardboard or chipboard or something. I don’t know why I didn’t do that in the beginning of my journey. I wish I had.
I don’t do this all the time (like if I’m making something small that doesn’t use much material) but now I try to do it.