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DIY laser cut silhouette

Laser cut silhouette

Follow this tutorial to learn how to create your own paper silhouette artwork. These finished pieces make great gifts and decorations.

DIY laser cut silhouette

Laser cut silhouette

Follow this tutorial to learn how to create your own paper silhouette artwork. These finished pieces make great gifts and decorations.

Preparation

Required Material
  • 1 Sheet Laser Paper Orange-Red
  • 1 Sheet Laser Paper Slate Gray + self adhesive
  • 1 Sheet Laser Paper Blue + self adhesive
  • 1 Sheet Laser Paper Dark Blue + self adhesive
  • 1 Sheet Laser Paper Black + self adhesive
  • Covering material
Machines Used
  • Speedy 360, 80 Watt
  • 1.5" lens
  • Honeycomb vacuum table

We decided to make use of  a Speedy 360 laser engraver for our project, but you could also create this article by making use of any of the other laser machines in the Speedy laser engraver series.

Tip

We decided to use the 1.5" lens. This is due to the fact that we wanted to achieve very delicate and detailed cuts.

DIY-lasercut-paper-silhouette.zip

ZIP

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Step by step

Trotec laser print settings: LaserPaper
Step 1

Step 1: Design It

Let's start by uploading the artwork. Feel free to change the design as you like to add your own personal touch to the silhouette. We're then going to send the 5 individual graphics to your Trotec laser machine with the following settings:

Process mode Resolution Cut line
Standard 500dpi none
Halftone Others
color Enhanced geometries, Inner Geometries first
Laser cutting different types and colors of paper
Step 2

Step 2: Laser Process the Paper

Place the coloured paper sheets in the correct order, making sure it replicates your design, and then lay them in the your Trotec laser machine. Cover the remaining open spaces of the work surface of your machine. This will help to achieve a more secure vacuum. Remember that laser parameters can vary depending on the laser machine you're using and the available laser power.

Laser Parameters: Engraving

Black Engrave CO2 40 70 500
Color Process Power % Speed % ppi/Hz
1 ON 0mm High Quality
Passes Air Assist Z-offset Advanced

Laser Parameters: Cutting

Color Process Power % Speed % ppi/Hz
Red Cut CO2 15 1 1,000
Passes Air Assist Z-offset Advanced
1 ON 0mm -
assemble your laser cut silhouette
Step 3

Step 3: Assemble It

Next you'll need to choose a colour for the backing plate. We're then going to place the coloured sheets in order, based on your design. If you're using our design, take the orange rectangle as a backing plate, and then stick the remaining colours in the following order:

  • Slate grey
  • Blue
  • Dark blue
  • Black as finishing

Trotec Materials

Try our tested Laser Paper for your applications. Like all our laserable materials, LaserPaper was developed specifically for laser processing. This means you can achieve the highest contrast with the laser machine, with a clean cut mark 

Inspiration for a laser cut silhouette
Inspiration for a laser cut silhouette

Inspiration

  • Cut spacers from thin TroLase ADA, and stick them between the individual paper sheets. This will help to create more depth and dimension to the finished product.
  • Replace the orange base plate with white LaserPaper Synthetic, so you can stand the picture in front of a lamp and illuminate it.
  • Depending on the motif, you could also use the laser cut silhouette as a gift card.

Speedy series
 The ideal laser engraver and cutter for personalisation.

Discover laser engravers and cutters

Questions about applications or settings?
We're happy to advise you from A for Air assist to Z for z-offset.

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