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Laser Cutting Experiment
Hello, I just came home from a class learning how to use a Laser cutter. Two women in my studio complex have a laser cutting business and to offset their expenses they teach classes and allow other artisans access to the equipment. The possibilities are endless! You can cut and etch on wood, glass, acrylic, paper, matt board, cork, etc . . . . ! My mind is racing with ideas and possibilities. One idea I will pursue is to create a photo etching print plate on acrylic. Solar plates are just too expensive and the max size I can get is 16 x 20. The laser cutter can etch up to 24 x 36 inches!
The image I’ve posted shows a pattern I made from a skeleton leaf. The black & white paper is the paper print and the wood shows my pattern etched into it. I can’t wait to varnish it and bring out the detail even more. Don’t know where I’m going with this yet—which is fun. I love just plain experimentation with no preconceived idea. You may recognize my skeleton leaf pattern, I’ve used it in prints in the form of pronto plate printing before.
Who among this group has used a laser cutter?
Here’s a close up showing the printout (B&W) and etched wood. And next to it, an installation shot showing two mixed-media prints that show previous use of my skeleton leaf pattern on the edges of the prints.
Very interesting. I know just about nothing about print making or laser cutting. How did you make that original pattern? How long does it take this laser to do it’s thing? What is a solar plate? hah
This laser cutting machine sounds fun. What is it like to operate it?
Well, first, both solarplate and laser cutting are mechanical processes developed for commercial (non art) uses. At some point, the sooner the better, an artist comes along and sees the potential and a new art process is born. Note specifically I said “art process” not “art form.” A solar plate etching is a metal or plastic sheet coated with a light resistant substance that can be exposed (via sunlight or a light source). A laser cutter, you must understand I just did this yesterday! It’s all so new, is a machine that uses a laser to follow exact instructions from an image file, you can “etch” as I have done hear, or you can “cut” exact shapes through many materials. More to come soon. . . I’m so excited about the possibilities, but let’s be clear, I’m an artist and at some point throughout the process, the HAND, subtle human decisions, will be made and shine through.
Oh, the original pattern? I have been developing patterns made from skeleton leaves from my garden for a few years now. If you look in the original picture, you’ll see the actual leaf used. This is a cottonwood leaf found in my garden. I scan it in photoshop, crop and duplicate, etc. . .
The actual laser cutting for the small piece of wood took somewhere under 20 minutes. But, next steps are tweaking! I can scan it twice, deeper, all sorts of variables to get a deeper or more dramtic etch! I’m totally a kid with a new toy.
Hot damn that looks fun. There is a place in Philly that has one of these and I’ve been dying to try it out. Now I might have to think of something to make…
Looks amazing!
Darla,
I can see one of your animals with a tribal tatoo “etched” on
just popped in my mind when I saw your comment
Oh, the etching on wood!? Love it! Definitely seems like something that I could find ways to incorporate into my woodburnings. It’s so fun coming across new methods and means. Have fun with it!, Kelly!
Yes Lauren,
the combination of machine laser cutting and your hand work would be fascinating.