Image shifting is killing me!

[evansd2]

@ElfIRL

some flaw in my approach

Yes.

The camera is always an approximation. You need better than that.

Read #15 and #23 for alignment tips and jig technique.

Common problems/questions

Hello! You’ve been referred to this post because you have a common problem or question. Check out the list below to see what this post can do for you. Just click on a topic that interests you. • 1: I’m new to Glowforge and really have no idea where to start • 1a: What other tools/materials should I buy to go with my Glowforge? • 1b: What are the overall best practices for my laser designs? • 2: All about masking/protecting your materials • 3: I want to design/make a box • 4: What materi…

Then read this post about getting perfect alignment on a double sided engrave:

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…

Between those topics your alignment issues will be a thing of the past.

It sounds like you’re very close to the right track with your current workflow; the key is to ignore the camera on your second side operation. If you haven’t loved the material it’s dead accurate and adjusting the set in the ui will always fail.