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

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 used a Speedy 360 laser engraver for ours, but you can create this piece using any of the laser machines in the Speedy laser engraver series.

Tip

We used the 1.5" lens, because we wanted to make very delicate and detailed cuts.

DIY-lasercut-paper-silhouette.zip

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Step by step

Trotec laser print settings: LaserPaper
Step 1

Step 1: Design

Import the graphics and adapt the design as you wish to create your own unique silhouette. Then send the 5 various  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

Arrange the colored paper sheets in order, according to your design, and then lay them in the your Trotec laser machine. Cover the rest of the working surface to get a strong vacuum. The 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: Assembly

Select a color for the backing plate, and then place the colored 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 colors 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

  • Cut spacers from thin TroLase ADA, and stick them between the individual paper sheets. This adds additional depth and dimension to the final piece.
  • 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 can use the laser cut silhouette as a gift card.

Speedy series
The ideal laser engraver and cutter for personalization.

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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