Make a new document. File > New This menu will pop-up. Choose Profile > Print
Change the following:
Size: Letter
Width: 11 in
Height: 8.5 in
Units: Inches
Orientation: Portrait or Landscape
Color Mode: RGB
Arrange your text to the desired layout. Start with your initials.
Engrave: Assign the Fill color to absolute Black. When the laser cutter sees absolute Black, it engraves that area.
Select all of your text elements and Expand them. Object > Expand
Select all the expanded elements and Unite them, so that now they are all one object. Open the Pathfinder, select elements, and choose Unite. *If it worked, when you select one character, it will select all of your text.
Select the new text element, copy it, and paste in back. Edit > Copy Edit > Paste in Back.
With the text still selected change fill color so you see the change, then offset the path. *I choose blue just so I can see the change.
Object > Path > Offset Path I set the Path Offset to 0.1 in, yours will be different. Check the Preview Box to see the thickness.
Setting up the perimeter for cutting. Select the offset path and assign it an absolute Red (255, 0, 0) and give it a thickness of 0.005 pt and the Fill Color to White.
Double click on the red swatch and the Swatch Options will appear.
*The red line is very thin . . .
Change the following:
Size: Letter
Width: 11 in
Height: 8.5 in
Units: Inches
Orientation: Portrait or Landscape
Color Mode: RGB
Arrange your text to the desired layout. Start with your initials.
Engrave: Assign the Fill color to absolute Black. When the laser cutter sees absolute Black, it engraves that area.
Select all of your text elements and Expand them. Object > Expand
Select all the expanded elements and Unite them, so that now they are all one object. Open the Pathfinder, select elements, and choose Unite. *If it worked, when you select one character, it will select all of your text.
Select the new text element, copy it, and paste in back. Edit > Copy Edit > Paste in Back.
With the text still selected change fill color so you see the change, then offset the path. *I choose blue just so I can see the change.
Object > Path > Offset Path I set the Path Offset to 0.1 in, yours will be different. Check the Preview Box to see the thickness.
Setting up the perimeter for cutting. Select the offset path and assign it an absolute Red (255, 0, 0) and give it a thickness of 0.005 pt and the Fill Color to White.
Double click on the red swatch and the Swatch Options will appear.
| *HOT TIP Draw or scribble a rough path with the pencil (or Paintbrush). Now, with your path still selected, select the Smooth tool, click and drag across your selected path to smooth it out.  Repeat until you reach and acceptable result:   Ok that looks pretty smooth, done. Notice that the smooth tool also reduces the amount of anchor points in your path.  |
*The red line is very thin . . .
