What file type for cutting?

[anna1]

Hi! I’m a new glowforger.
For some reason when I upload artwork it automatically sets to engrave. Choosing cut is not an available option. Could this be because of the file type I use? I’ve tried JPG and PDF and even 3D Paint. What file do you use to cut?

[Jules]

Yes, it likely is the type of file you are using. Raster images like jpegs and some PDF files can only be engraved. They are created using individual pixels of color.

In order to create cut lines, you need to create a vector path (line) for the laser to follow.
We do that in any one of a number of vector programs like Illustrator or Inkscape.

There are some tutorials that explain the difference between the two kinds of files and how to turn them into something that the Glowforge can interpret here. (They’re just short writeups, but they will save you a lot of time.)

Official Glowforge Training starts here:

@dan

Print a Gift of Good Measure .
Print a Snap-n-Store Box with Customization
Make a Gift Tag
Shortcut Keys
Trace a Hand Drawing with the Glowforge
Print your Own File
Cut Out a Shape
Engrave and Cut a Photo
Print Text
Introduction to Inkscape
Prep a Photo Engrave in GIMP
Prep a Photo Engrave in Photoshop
Snapmarks - Introduction
Manual Mode in the Glowforge - How to Save your Settings

And some of the Customer recommendations are here:

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 yo…

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…

That should explain a lot of what you are shooting for, and if you have specific questions, you can always ask here…there are experts in all the major design programs.

[pip]

Thanks for the answer @Jules, that’s right. I’m going to close this thread - if you have any other questions, go ahead and post a new topic. Thanks for letting us know about this!