Making a Professional Quality Laser Engraved Sign! Learning Lightburn design tools!

[@eddiesummers666]

Fantastic presentation, I've been doing woodworking for about 10 years. This past Father's Day my kids gave me an Aufero 2. I am a graphics designer, and my son and I own affordable tint vinyl graphics. The light burn software is much like what I use for vinyl graphics, Except the icons are different. Your videos have helped me so much I want to thank you. Looking forward to more have a blessed day

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Thanks for sharing Eddie!

[@shadowliving6858]

Thank you for not rushing through this. I’m new and you made this easy to follow and understand.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@chucklenz9011]

Boy u added some more things I learned and can do. I liked that u went slower and showed the moves and buttons to click on.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Glad it helped Chuck!

[@LarryDMitchell]

Rich, GREAT video! I know it's a year old but that's the upside to KZbin, the information is always there. I was able to score some real nice, as much as I want, 3/4" Baltic Birch plywood scraps from a friend who makes storage inserts for off road vehicles. I'm thinking a smaller version of this would be a great idea for a plaque on our grandchildren's room. Something like Eli's Room with his favorite stuff like cars, planes, etc. So many ideas I guess I just need to select one and START!

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Awesome Larry, thank you for sharing! Sounds like a fun project! 👍

[@AlleHoward]

This is the 2nd video I have watched from you. And I was more confused with the beginner video than this one.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

I try and make them as simple as possible. If something confuses you, just re-watch it. You'll get the idea.

[@buildpune699]

Always love 💕 to watch your videos... being non music and explains simply smoothly

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Thank you so much 😀

[@jeffreycanfora1091]

Amazing Rich! I have never heard see a software like this. The way you teach is excellent. I try to watch and learn from 2-3 of your videos a day. My laser skills would’ve been clip art and basic text at best without y. Much, Much appreciate.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Happy to help Jeffrey! Glad you're enjoying them!

[@robertmarshall9970]

Thanks Rick. I like the slow way you do things, it helps us see what you are doing.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Very welcome Robert, thanks for the comment!

[@mikelovell-bo2id]

Rich, as you know I’m still new at this and your videos have helped me more than you know. Thank you so much for all of your videos , sincerely Mike

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Glad to help Mike! Welcome aboard!

[@trevorbroadbent1604]

Hi Rich being a 73 year old newbie to a laser, i really appreciate the way you explain each process, and i am enjoying your videos regards from Australia Trevor

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Glad to help Trevor! Thank you for watching!

[@dale2512]

Thank you! Makes me think I can actually do this! I will be checking out all your videos.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

You can do it! 👍

[@wayneboughton6957]

I enjoy the videos but would love to see the finished product. Thanks for helping me learn.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Some videos are pure software tutorials Wayne.

[@SpaceLint]

Great video. While a more intermediate LightBurn user I’ve learned a few things from your recent videos. Thank you for making them. 🙂

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Awesome, thank you!

[@melaniemaccallum]

Great Video, thanks so much for not rushing, appreciate all you do !

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

I appreciate that!

[@andreamagill7034]

A lovely sign. You explained it really well. I will have to have a go 😊 Thank you

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Have fun!

[@michaellarson7194]

I keep watching and learning, thanks.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Glad to hear it Michael! Thanks for watching!

[@brucedownton6568]

Great video Rich. Always learning. I enjoy each and every one!!

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Thanks for watching Bruce!

[@christopherdivirgilio9861]

The "blue dot." Brilliant. I had been doing my specialty texts in Photoshop. Another great tutorial. Thanks, Rich. Cheers!

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Happy to help Christopher!

[@michaelmckenney7214]

Great video, thanks for taking some of the mystery out of the projects. Look forward to seeing more!

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaelmckenney7214]

@@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy Hey Rich, just a quick question, my text gets burned backwards. Other than grabbing the edge and forcing it the other way, is there a button for that? Thanks, learning a lot from going through your videos!

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

No, that's likely the wrong origin in the Device Settings.

[@dennisg11348]

I'd love to see the final product. Thanks for providing this instruction. Extremely helpful to me just starting out.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

This was a project for a friend. They provided me with some bamboo flooring for the project that matched the flooring in their new cabin. I didn't actually get into the wood shop to cut out and frame the sign itself until about a week after recording the video because I was waiting on their approval of the actual graphics. So by the time I got the approval, cut the sign in the woodshop, inlaid it into an oak frame and burned it, it was about two weeks later. I was a little leery about using the bamboo, but it came out wonderful with the oak edges! I wound up gifting it to them as a cabin-warming present.

[@dennisg11348]

@@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy just want to thank you for these Lightburn videos. I just started using it along with my ORTUR Master 2 Pro. I go to my shop start your video and follow your I instructions, both using pause and rewinding segments. I'd be lost without them.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Wow, great to hear! You'll become an expert before long! 👍

[@TheUnofficialMaker]

@@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy you should show it in upcoming video when finished and link to it.

[@Tom-ep3cq]

Thank you. Loving lightburn. I also use an CNC machine, and this software is similar to V-carve pro. I can design in lightburn and take that file into v-carve pro and assign tool paths to cut out the design. Purchased the comgrow camera which makes it really easy to line things up. Thanks for your recommendation, on the Atezr P20 PLUS, so far, it's working out really well for me.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Thank you so much for the comments Tom! I really appreciate it! 👍

[@prozmen]

Спасибо за хорошее видео. Из них я узнал больше, чем нашел на своем языке. Хоть я и не знаю английский, субтитры мне помогают, да и сама программа интуитивно понятна. Большое спасибо! Буду смотреть и другие видео, когда будет свободное время, хотя его и не так много. Удачи вам и здоровья!

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Пожалуйста! Я постараюсь обновить для вас русские субтитры. Большое спасибо за комментарии!

[@allanbourner4569]

Very good video, Im a newbie with Lasers (My Atomstack X20 Pro arrived today) Can't wait to get started, thanks for a good tutorial

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Welcome aboard Allan!

[@CBGRAPHICSAirbrushArt]

Great video 👍🏽 New sub I just assembled my diode laser machine two days ago and have been learning lightburn”s different functions and learned so much in this video. I will definitely be checking out your other videos. Thanks for sharing

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Awesome, thank you!

[@LusitanoPK]

I shall hopefully soon be a Lightburn user and love the way you do your videos and your voiceover. Reminds me of the late Bob Ross who does the 'Joy of Painting TV series!

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Wow, thanks! I watched him for so many years!

[@rickmccaskill7888]

So happy I found you. I have been using Lightburn for more than a year and learned many new things. Going to watch your other videos. Thanks for sharing. Now subscribed so I won’t miss future videos.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Thank you and welcome aboard! I have a lot more planned!

[@fredweaver8194]

Still a beginner and love your videos. Learn something from each one. The part about burning from left to right caught my attention. How do you set that in Lightburn?

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

It scans at 0° (left to right) natively Fred. If you want to change that, double click the layer and change the scan angle.

[@craigdance5474]

I wush i hadve seen your videos when i first started learning lightburn. So many things in this video i didnt know previously. Great stuff.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Glad I could help! I try and show different features in every video. Thanks for watching!

[@johnfraser744]

Hi rich could you tell me if you done a video on setting up a amstrack 40 w in lightburn been watching most of your work and it's fantastic thank you

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Here's a good video John: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3zFZGVqgq-hY6s

[@melindagibson8606]

Absolutely fantastic video for a newbie tahnks so much!

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Glad it was helpful Melinda!

[@michaelsvendsen1264]

Thank You so much! I truly appreciate your videos.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Glad you like them Michael!

[@mikeguidry49]

Another awesome lesson, as always! Thank you Rich.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

My pleasure Mike!

[@dbcriss21]

I super enjoy your videos, and also appreciate you not using intros and jazzy music. For the first time users like myself, do you have a video that does a simple street sign from beginning to end? From launching Lightburn, verifying it and the laser are connected, the layout of the sign, previewing the project, where to align the substrate to be burned under the laser, setting the laser height, examples of laser speed and intensity, and then burning the project? The entire process. Also, should my laser be sitting on my workbench or sitting on a spoil board, or attached to a spoil board? Thanks, really enjoy your work and your calm narration. David

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

That's a pretty specific request David! I don't have one particular video on it, but all these things and a lot more are covered in many videos. The laser should be attached to a spoil board with a grid burned into it, and you should work in absolute coordinates IMO.

[@d.i.l.l.i.g.a.f]

Awesome Tutorial, What an amazing piece of software Lightburn is, Very Powerful and quite easy to use, when you know how, and I am slowly learning. Thanks to you. One wish would be a Button to turn snapping on/off, Instead of having to go into the settings menu each time.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

There is one! Hold the Ctrl key while dragging!

[@wescampbell2526]

Hey Rich, question if you still check this, being 2 yrs later. So I made my welded names but when I preview I see a red Cross Hairs in that area of my workspace. I'm sure its Lightburn trying to tell me something, but I have no idea what.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

The red crosshair is telling you the last position of the laser.

[@nikkac13]

Hi there, can you share how you made the graphic design board that appears on your thumbnail with all the clipart? Thanks in advance

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

It was a screenshot of the Lightburn work bed.

[@nikkac13]

@@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy oh ok. Thanks so much

[@gerrygardner669]

Awsome video thank you if it wasn't for you taking time to make these it could take years to figure this program and all of it's features out. Thanks again

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Glad to help Gerry, thank you!

[@Guzzler59]

Thank you sir for these very usefull lessons. Just a small question, in the preview the lines of the last name seem very tiny in regard of the thickness of the first names inbetween. Is there a way to thicken them ? Regards from the Netherlands.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Yes Guus, you can offset them!

[@Guzzler59]

@@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy Thank you Rich !

[@dbrimmage237]

How would you set each segment to a different layer and eliminate so much laser travel in white space

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Set the layer to fill shapes individually.

[@ianwilkie2652]

Rich I find your videos helpful do you have any on making a In Memory plaque

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Not specifically, no.

[@ianwilkie2652]

@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy okay thanks for the videos anyway really helpful

[@Andy.H.H.]

At 17:50 you say you burn it left to right and you do it for a reason but, you don't say how to set the laser to burn left to right. Is there a setting for this?

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Lightburn scans all projects left to right unless you change the setting in the Cuts / Layers Andy. If you double click the layer, you can change the scan angle.

[@Andy.H.H.]

@@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy Thanks Rich!

[@dilciaw2091]

Hi, I just got a polar 350, my hubby help me set it. But I don't know where to star. I own small cutters like cricket on only so this is very new to me. I have downloaded lighburt and some of the features are similar to Design pace from Cricut. But i am still overwhelmed because I am not familiar with it....could you suggest some of your videos I can use as a guide? I appreciate it very much.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Hi Dilcia, my videos are about Lightburn training. I would suggest going to the OMTech KZbin channel. They have training videos there for the Polar.

[@TheUnofficialMaker]

nice video, wish you had burned the final outcome and how long to burn.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

This was more of a Lightburn tutorial. I had to get the approval from my friend before actually running the job, which didn't happen until a week later.

[@MrKtmstu]

Really useful video thankyou, I learned heaps

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Great to hear Stu!

[@brynroberts9570]

Fantastic

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@jumpdog7618]

Im new to this. How do I get the text and lines to fill in design mode and not just in preview screen? Great help from this video. Thanks.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Click Window --> Filled Corse (or smooth)

[@jumpdog7618]

@@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy That did it. Thanks so much.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

@@jumpdog7618 My pleasure!

[@denicabishop]

Thank you for this video! I was referred here because my Ortur Pro 2 takes FOREVER to burn. I noticed that the preview time said that this would take 4 hours, but in the comments section you noted that it only took 2. I'm assuming your computer is hooked up the whole time and you have to sit next to it while it's running? That's what I find that I have to do because my computer will go into idle and the laser will shut off. That's a different topic, but the main info I'm looking for is a realistic time to burn a design that is much less involved than yours. Mine said 14 hours just to fill a passage of text at 3500 mm/sec and 80% power on 3mm birch.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

If you're using Windows, Click on Start, search for Power Options. Click on Change plan settings on the current active power plan. Select Change advanced power settings. Expand the USB settings option, then click on USB selective suspend setting. Change the setting to Disabled. Speeding up the time is a matter of getting optimal settings by doing test burns. I guess I'll have to put that video on my long to-do list!

[@denicabishop]

@@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy Incredibly appreciated!!!

[@yelenavanoorschot3248]

Thank you for the lesson! 👍👍👍

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

My pleasure! Thank you for watching! 👍

[@duaneheda3236]

How do you set the laser to go left to right? Also a GREAT video!!!!! I'm working on a new sign now and will be adding some of your magic to it.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Set it at 0 degrees scan Duane.

[@eddiesummers666]

Forgot to mention you have a way of explaining the process so an old man can understand

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Thanks so much!

[@sweetliliane]

how to make the travel to be right to left, like you do ?

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Double click the layer on the Cut / Layers tab and choose the scan angle, set it to 0.

[@johnshamp6110]

Great video. Do you have the art file for the houses/cabins available for download?

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

There are tons of art libraries available for free in my Forum John.

[@vipertech4872]

WOW IM LEARNING SO MUCH THANK YOU

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

I'm so glad! Thanks for watching!

[@iwannaapple7190]

When I was getting my degree I went through a series of books that taught different areas. Like Access, Excel, Javascript, Html, etc. Each book put the chapters in story form. Like your doing now. It wrote a story about learning each segment of the chapter and it concentrated on certain parts and as the chapters expanded the story got bigger and bigger with more complicated stuff. Thats what this video is like. It has stuck with me for many years and I think all instructions should be like that. Even the Lightburn instructions story time instructions because they actually don't make sense to me. It could be easier to tie things together if it was written differently. In fact, I think it will even shorten the amount of instruction. Instructions should be about teaching your client not giving them a Webster dictionary and tell them to learn English.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

I'm happy you like the style! A lot of folks want to move quick, but I just can't do that!

[@LloydHester]

How do you cut from left to right? I followed the tutorial and have a couple of issues that I could do with some help with. When I selected and grouped the outer frame the fill does not show up. When I add the text and select fill and go to preview it shows that the engraving is covering the whole board and not the text. I am sure it is something in the setting but I don't know what and i have spent a long tim looking and redoing the tutorial a few times to see if it was something i missed. Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Try posting on my free forums. lahobbyguy.com/bb

[@wesdresen9994]

I am still waiting on my first laser. I've been learning inkscape to get ready for it. After watching a couple of your vids I will be getting lightburn when the machine shows up.Do you get anything if I follow your link to lightburn?

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

No I don't, but you'll be glad you got it Wes! Thanks for asking!

[@tbas7161]

So with that being a 4 plus hr. burn, What kind of a fee could one expect to pay for that? Keep the great videos coming! Thank you so much!

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Good question T! ✔ It all depends on your market. This sign was for a friend, so even though it was commissioned at $50, it wound up being a housewarming gift. My formula is, time + materials + profit x 2. So for this sign, my time is about 15 min, materials is about $3, and profit is always T, M & P x 2. So I had T= $15, M= $3 & P= $7, x 2 = $50.00. You have to use a formula for all of your work to make sure you profit, and although all pieces are different, my formula stays the same. I don't count time on the laser though, because I have either moved on to another project, or I'm doing something else that's not part of the job. My time is from when I open Lightburn, to when I hit start. Hope this helps! This sign actually took only 2 hours start to finish.

[@zachofalltrades1111]

Do you own a c02 laser ? Because your speeds are so much higher than mine I own a 100 watt c02 and I think my top spend is 550 I’ve tried to go higher but it won’t let me on lightburn

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

This was done on a diode laser, which is mm/min. A Co2 is mm/sec, so divide by 60.

[@rightpassage]

I lost ONE category in my art library and I can't seem to locate it?

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Search the computer for *.lbart. You'll find all the art libraries on the hard drive.

[@devinesignz2813]

Does the laser cut those round edges, but just burn the names? or are the edges just burned as well?

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

It can, but in this video I just engraved them Devine.

[@Sandyloucustomdesigns]

Thank you

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

You're welcome Sandy! Thanks for watching!

[@jabbarhajiyev3052]

I got the letters curved on the laser

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Awesome! You can also select the word and drag the little blue dot in the top left of the text to curve.

[@jabbarhajiyev3052]

@@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy I know this, I don’t need to bend, I need the engraving to be accurate, the letters are uneven, some are shifted up and some are down

[@lonniedupont]

Superb

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Thanks 🤗

[@MrSpike2450]

Dude you are awesome, :)

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

You rock! Thank you!

[@Acanders1980]

Is it really going to take 5 hours to burn that sign?

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

I didn't read the settings from the controller on that laser Aaron. It probably took 2 hours though.

[@Beecher_Dikov]

Needed a bear...

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

🍺

[@chhmansukhna5107]

great

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Thank you! 👍

[@krisknowlton5935]

I know many of your viewers may not understand the "No Music" thing. I will explain why it is great for us that are hearing impaired. When you add music to videos and then try to talk over the music, to us it all becomes garbled. We can't understand a word you are saying. Think of it like trying to listening to someone on a cell phone when their coverage is at a bare minimum and they keep cutting out. Thanks for not adding music to your videos.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Well said Kris! Thank you so much for the comment! Not to mention the subtitles!

[@davidhearne7881]

Thanks for going slow.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

Thanks for watching!

[@sheldonotto6130]

I have a hearing disability. So, when people make videos and they talk like they are on their tenth cup of coffee, they are useless to me. Thanks for taking it slow.

[@TheLouisianaHobbyGuy]

I'm pretty slow at everything now Sheldon! 🤪