Chapter VI - Cutting Techniques
6.1 Vector Cutting
A laser engraver can process text, design, and images composed of lines through continuous-firing of
the laser to cut out various shapes. When performing vector cutting operations, imagine the laser
head as a pair of scissors cutting out the lines specified in your design. An example of a vector cut
piece would be a customized dining mat, as shown in the picture below.
The LaserPro SmartCut X380 Print Driver determines vector cut based on the outline width of that
particular area or section of the design. In order to prep a particular section for vector cutting, you will
need to set that object’s fill color to white and set its outline thickness between 0.001” (0.025mm) to
0.004” (0.1mm) via the graphics software.
Below is an example of how to prep an area (in this case, we will use a section of text) for vector cutting.
CorelDraw will be used as the selected graphics software.
1) With the text function, create a string of characters and select those characters by clicking on the
text.
2) Change the text fill color of the selected characters to white by left clicking on the white color from
the CorelDraw Color Palette (located on the right hand side of the screen).
3) Change the outline color of the selected characters outline by right clicking on the desired color
from the CorelDraw Color Palette.
4) Change the selected characters outline thickness to the thinnest width by right clicking on the
selected text
Æ
select <Properties>
Æ
Click on the <Outline> tab and change the Width to its
thinnest dimension. Click on “OK” to apply the changes.
5) Now your string of characters has been properly designated as an area to be vector cut. Simply
“print” your job (output the file to the X380) and watch as your string of characters is vector cut.
- 65 -
SmartCut X380 User Manual
Distributed & Supported by: Jorlink USA, Inc. | Tel: (336) 288-1613 | [email protected] | www.JORLINK.com