My Best Laser Engraving Method - Preparing Your Image and Canvas

[@ghiegomez]

Great work! Very clear and easy tutorial! Thanks for helping out the newbies like me.

[@wtwtx]

Glad to help!

[@TFitz]

I lived in Round Rock back 2006-2010. Cool place. Just got me one of these too.

[@wtwtx]

Awesome

[@bigdaddy111058]

FINALLY a clear explanation of masking. Thank you!

[@wtwtx]

Your Welcome

[@SuperKaycampbell]

Awesome job. Thank you. What do you do if you start with a colored image, just convert to black and white image.

[@wtwtx]

Hi, yes, if it’s a colored image, convert to B&W

[@jch92592]

Great video and image selection. Is the completed piece available for viewing online? Any similar pieces to view? The Spanish Horse is stunning.

[@wtwtx]

Just uploaded some images to my FB page that you can view: facebook.com/wtwtx

[@JackInTheShop]

I have done a few of these. Not many. I used my 7 watt diode. Even tried on the 60watt CO2 but that did not come out too well. You image of the horse looks great.

[@wtwtx]

I appreciate that.

[@curckcurtis]

Thanks a lot !! This is a great tutorial for beginners like myself.

[@jamesshelton9126]

nice video, but I have a couple of questions, wouldn't resizing the image after running through gimp or imagr change the process and wouldn't you run pass through so not to add more dots?

[@wtwtx]

Typically you wouldn’t resize but I’ve had no issue doing so. I’m sure depending on the image it may distort it but nothing I’ve really noticed. The imagr image was run using passthrough. The gimp image I change as the script produces a newsprint image and changing to Jarvis provides a higher quality and better overall engrave.

[@JackInTheShop]

To zoom out in GIMP, hold the "CTRL" key on the keyboard, then use the mouse wheel. Or the "+" "-" keys

[@wtwtx]

Another great tip

[@JackInTheShop]

@@wtwtx Thanks, I don't want to come off like a know it all, cuz I have a lot of learning to do. I just really like keyboard short cuts to speed up my work.

[@wtwtx]

@@JackInTheShop it’s all about sharing and learning. Tips are always a good thing.

[@davdclarke4670]

Hi do you turn pass through on in lightburn. When you edit the pictures in gimp or imag-r 😊

[@wtwtx]

This is subjective. In my vids you will see for the most part, I turn it off as I’ve personally found I get better results without passthrough. I’ve done it both ways.

[@JackInTheShop]

in Lightburn, the p key will center.

[@wtwtx]

Great Tip

[@williamcary168]

What difference do the different lense sizes make when using da big gimpin? 9:30

[@wtwtx]

Essentially the DPI will vary depending on the size of the lense on your laser. Check the specs on the laser you use, it will typically give you the lense size. C02 lasers such as Thunder Laser use different lense sizes based on what your doing.

[@williamcary168]

​@@wtwtx can't seem to find the lense size for the xtool d1 pro 10 or 40w 🤔

[@wtwtx]

@@williamcary168 if you are using gimp plug-in v4 select the smallest lense. If you use v3 or imagr, you don’t have the option to select a lense size. Choosing a lense is only relevant if you are using a co2 laser.

[@williamcary168]

@@wtwtx ahh ok thank u very much for everything

[@timd5597]

Typically if you do a three or four color job on canvas do you change your your speed and power vs 2 color?

[@wtwtx]

Yes, I change speed and power and it also depends on the colors I'm using. Running and image engrave test is best to get the settings for multi color.

[@IndieAnnieJones1]

DA Big Gimping Plug-In link says it is malicious site - is there another link please?

[@wtwtx]

That is your browser trying to prevent you from going to a potentially harmful site. You can bypass that and go to the site to download. The link I posted is the official site that provides the plugin for purchase.

[@IndieAnnieJones1]

@@wtwtx thank you so much!

[@wtwtx]

@@IndieAnnieJones1 you bet

[@nitrom68]

Your work looks great. I use paid image-r, and they and others always suggest passthrough when dithered outside of lightburn. Have you tried passthrough with gimp plugin? I've noticed my time with image dithered outside of lightburn, when I select Threshold or passthrough, I get the same estimated time. Also I've done a preview with your speed, and my time is 4hr 28min 47sec I set up my device in lightburn by clicking, device settings, then additional settings, and read from controller. I've done 12x12 and 10x10 mirrors and when I preview the time it is pretty much spot on. I use OLM2 Pro 2 which is grbl based.

[@wtwtx]

I’ve not done passthrough when I process using the gimp plug-in as their default is newsprint. I use Jarvis so hence I don’t use passthrough. I’m working on another video where one image will be done using the free option of imgr and other using gimp plug-in. Will use same LIGHTBURN settings for both so keep an eye out for that one. That’s for the great feedback.

[@nitrom68]

@@wtwtx your comment from above. I process using the gimp plug-in as their default is newsprint. I use Jarvis so hence I don’t use passthrough. That would be double dithering. They say don't do that, but I wonder if they tried?

[@wtwtx]

@@nitrom68 the results have worked out well for me not using passthrough.

[@mikeledee8786]

Why did you pick 2" lens vs V4 Glass-Tile Dither for the D1 10watt? TIA

[@wtwtx]

No specific reason other than to show the options available.

[@mikeledee8786]

@@wtwtx thanks

[@angelaleann5054]

Is this the stretched canvas or the flat ones? looks like stretched but wanted to double check.

[@wtwtx]

Stretched

[@robertarmstrong2323]

You don't use white tile painted black?

[@wtwtx]

If you use GIMP then you don't have that option, you just select Tile or Wood. If Imagr, then white tile painted black.

[@rustyridgley972]

I have a question for you. I followed your video and when I got to lightburn and previewed it the picture does come through what am I doing wrong. Thanks for any help.

[@wtwtx]

Did you mean to say the picture doesn’t come up on the preview? Make sure that you have output and show turned on in the image layer before doing a preview.

[@rustyridgley972]

@@wtwtx ok will look at that thank. Yes that what I meant.

[@markhulette6987]

Thanks for the tutorial! Very well explained! I'm brand new to lasers and have not yet tried a canvas but your work is really inspiring!! I'm just trying to figure out some basics (very limited experience with LB but I can make most things work). Why is the processed image a negative of the original? Thanks for helping me to understand!

[@wtwtx]

Glad the video is helpful. I am not certain why the image needs to be negative. My understanding is LB reads a negative image and engraves the opposite in all the modes except grayscale.

[@markhulette6987]

@@wtwtx Ah, okay. Makes sense- that's the first I've heard of that but like I said, I'm so new I don't know what I don't know! 😀 Thanks so much for the quick reply! Subbed

[@wtwtx]

You bet. Every laser burns a bit different so do a small test to ensure the settings work for you before committing to a full canvas.

[@Real-Tecnica]

What's the difference between white tile norton and white tile painted black? it's confusing me because the canvas is painted black

[@wtwtx]

White tile painted black simple refers to your engraving a dark surface vs light. If you paint the canvas black and then white, you’d use the Norton white tile method. If you paint it white then black, then you use the other method.

[@williamcary168]

I was under the impression that pass through had to be selected when running an image through gimp. Does it make a difference?

[@wtwtx]

Passthrough is not required. You can turn it off and set your own preferences in Lightburn.

[@christinebagatin5945]

Hi there… I’m in a MAC environment, and am unable to find the ImagR software that would work. :/

[@wtwtx]

ImagR is an online platform. The link is in the description.

[@christinebagatin5945]

Yup… I just came back to update my comment…that I had found it. Kind regards.

[@kimoliver7137]

I have the 10w Pro...how much different do you think the settings would be?

[@wtwtx]

You could setup a test canvas and I’ve created a video on how to do that. Was my first video so not the best but the content and how to setup is there.kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3e9aH6kiJp8eZY Best guess give it’s the 20 vs. 10 is 12k for speed and try 40-50% power.

[@kimoliver7137]

@@wtwtx Thank you!

[@tushkanchik_1]

Do you have a link for that paint attachment? Or at least what it calls? Thanks

[@wtwtx]

www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Stops-Rust-High-Performance-Comfort-Spray-Grip-Accessory-241526/100670383

[@wtwtx]

This one is a bit cheaper: www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Stops-Rust-Economy-Spray-Grip-Accessory-243546/100140106

[@Reviews-Tidbits]

I thought pass through needs checked because you are not letting LightBurn do the image processing?

[@wtwtx]

Yes, if you don’t want lightburn to change the render of your image from another process you used, you check it. My method is what works for me and meant as a suggestion to achieve better results.

[@mikeledee8786]

You said you use gimp instead of imagr, can you show the same image both ways, same setting to compare so we can decide if the cost difference is worth it? Thanks

[@wtwtx]

Absolutely

[@mikeledee8786]

@@wtwtx thanks

[@mikeledee8786]

I am trying to find the video with the comparison gimp and imagr, can't find it, let me know how to find it? Thanks

[@wtwtx]

@@mikeledee8786 I prematurely uploading not realizing I selected the wrong option on imgr. Working on update and will repost.

[@mikeledee8786]

@@wtwtx OK, let me know. Thanks

[@Unique4engravings]

I can not get gimp to work after i do everything it always makes my photos newprint

[@wtwtx]

When you take it into lightburn and change it to Jarvis or any other option, newsprint will be ignored. If your using the plugin, the default it’s set to is newsprint as that is what most would typically use for photos.

[@Kun373]

good lession

[@wtwtx]

Thank you

[@Lolikuki-g3]

Where is the final picture???

[@wtwtx]

Checkout my other video where I engrave the image and show the results: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJ7FoGWAgKh6fsk

[@torowazup1]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👌🏼🎄😎

[@wtwtx]

Thanks

[@kaspersloth5865]

Thank you for your nice review and great result But in my opinion, that is a lot of wasted work 🙂 If you are using imag-r paid version Then you can completely edit the image there Both dpi and size and use the algorithm that suits you best and then choose passtrue in lightburn So when you import the image, you only need to create the frame you want the image to be in and place the image in the middle and set speed and power

[@wtwtx]

Great feedback, thank you.