With a laser cutter, there's almost no end to the creative things you can make, yet I still find myself loving the simplicity of boxes or box-like designs like these...
![60-Second Power Ups: Curving or Arcing Text [Illustrator]](http://bigbluelaserdesigns.com/cdn/shop/articles/Curving-Text-Illustrator-Website-Cover-Image_{width}x.jpg?v=1596645991)
Another easy way to add some style to the text you cut with your laser is to curve the text or put it on a slight arc. Type out your...
![60 Second Power Ups: Uniting Text [Inkscape]](http://bigbluelaserdesigns.com/cdn/shop/articles/Uniting-Text-Inkscape-Cover-Image-Website_{width}x.jpg?v=1596387233)
If you are just getting started using Inkscape and your Glowforge (or other laser), chances are good that you'll be cutting some script or cursive text soon. One of the...
If you're a laser owner and ever want to make something like a Christmas ornament with text in it, you'll need to know how to connect some text to a...
![60-Second Power-Ups: Uniting Text [Illustrator]](http://bigbluelaserdesigns.com/cdn/shop/articles/Uniting-Text-Blog-Cover-201213_{width}x.jpg?v=1595041662)
We all love creating text-based designs with our lasers (I know I do)! If you're creating a word or set of words in your vector program like Adobe Illustrator, there's just...
Here's a ~90 second look at kerf to help you start getting your head around it. Once you do, you'll find it really easy! [VIDEO BELOW] Intro to kerf (the...
![Cutting a Design with Multiple Layers in One File [Glowforge]](http://bigbluelaserdesigns.com/cdn/shop/articles/Cover-Image-Cutting-a-Design-with-Multiple-Layers-in-One-File_8c87ccf5-2ed6-4548-9bac-d345b3f38175-106555_{width}x.jpg?v=1594451060)
One of the techniques I try to help beginning designers to use when working with a Glowforge is using different colors to represent different layers in the Glowforge UI (User...
![Reverse Engraving (or Punching Text From a Background) [Illustrator]](http://bigbluelaserdesigns.com/cdn/shop/articles/Website-Cover-Image-Reverse-Engraving-2-283915_{width}x.jpg?v=1594451062)
I like the look of engraved text on wood, but when I discovered how to do what I call "reverse engraving", I found something I often like the look of...
![Using Offset Path For Layered Text Designs [Illustrator]](http://bigbluelaserdesigns.com/cdn/shop/articles/Cover-Image-Offset-Path-for-latered-Text-736935_{width}x.jpg?v=1594291802)
One of my favorite looks is layered text with each level getting slightly smaller than the previous. And when they are different colors of wood, that adds even more visual...
![How to Make a Nameplate [Creator Tips]](http://bigbluelaserdesigns.com/cdn/shop/articles/Cover-How-to-Create-a-Nameplate-Blank-603571_{width}x.jpg?v=1594191933)
If you use your laser to make things to sell and you're not selling name plates, I want to encourage you to add them to your list of products! They're...
![Stroke or Fill? (Hint: It Doesn't Matter) [GLOWFORGE]](http://bigbluelaserdesigns.com/cdn/shop/articles/Cover-Image-Fill-or-Stroke-Blank-941218_{width}x.jpg?v=1594191935)
One of the first things that beginning Glowforge owners tend to get hung up on is thinking that if they want to cut something out, it has to be a...
In this tutorial I show how to measure your materials and then design a simple shape and slotted stand and adjust the slot for a good fit. Then in part...