Photos! Had enough!

[Sasquatch (тнє gяєαт ρα¢ιfι¢ иσятнωєѕт)]

@beamer3.6

the background

I think it’s slate

[Sasquatch (тнє gяєαт ρα¢ιfι¢ иσятнωєѕт)]

@Richie

Do you have a file I could use to try the test?

Try this

Material Cut/Scan Test Files - Power Scale

Here is a test file created using the ‘Array’ and ‘Power Scale’ features. (you must adjust the settings in this file for your setup and needs) Setup grid array with all rows at 80% Max pwr 0% Min pwr. Set each row at different speed starting at 400mm/s down to 100mm/s from top to bottom of scale. Viewing left to right, each column uses ‘Power Scale’ to adjust from 10% to 100% (of 80%). PowerScale Test_01_Rico.lbrn (23.7 KB) [image]

[beamer3.6 (L H)]

Slate is surely making this more difficult to test.

Try wood first.

[Richie (Richard wheatley)]

I’ve tried wood so many times before with little luck. I was finishing a project on slate, then had a quick try using slate, as it was “to hand”.

[beamer3.6 (L H)]

I am no expert but its almost like you need to invert the image so blacks come out white and vice versa… the shirt in the image is black but is printed white but the face is white in the image and prints black.

[Sasquatch (тнє gяєαт ρα¢ιfι¢ иσятнωєѕт)]

@beamer3.6

invert the image so blacks come out white and vice versa

I agree 100% with the image being turned to a negative .

Do you have a photo editing program? I know you stated that Corel Draw was not in the budget there is a free option

Try GIMP

GIMP

Watch this video

Using gimp for Laser Engraving

[Sasquatch (тнє gяєαт ρα¢ιfι¢ иσятнωєѕт)]

Here is a past post on inverting vectors

How do I invert (negate) a vector engraving?

If you want to invert a vector engraving (Fill layer) you need to add an outline to it. Think about what happens when you scan a circle, compared to the letter ‘O’. The inner ring of the O toggles the fill. If you add another shape (like a square) outside it, it negates the whole thing: [image] And a slightly different example, this time done by changing the outer line around the design to a ‘Line’, instead of leaving it as part of the Fill layer: [image] In the case above, the design alr…

Here is some good reading in granite and engraving. I believe it’s relevant because the substrate is black.

How to Engrave Black Granite

[Rick (Technical Evangelist)]

@beamer3.6

invert the image so blacks come out white and vice versa…

Slate is an interesting substrate as the burning of the job creates a lighter color than the original material. For Image work, LightBurn provides a simple way to turn the image negative for this type of burn.

As @Sasquatch identifies, the suggestion he posts, “How do I invert (negate) a vector engraving?” is for vector art only and will not affect your image as desired.

This image is using that ‘Negative Image’ setting and here is the ‘Preview’.

We also offer a switch in the ‘Preview’ that allows you to see the resulting output in the way it will appear due to the different, lighter color change some substrates produce.

[Richie (Richard wheatley)]

Really interesting feed back, thank you.
I will try working with gimp, see what that brings and with the scale.
I will post results as soon as I get a chance.

[Rick (Technical Evangelist)]

@Richie

I will try working with gimp

And to be fair, there is also InkScape as an alternative free editor option as well. But you do not need to edit your image outside LightBurn as the changes you are looking to make can be done in LightBurn.

The suggested changes I made are for the cut settings and not editing the source art. You can work with the image inside LightBurn and do many of the laser prep adjustments, but that is a different procedure. Image adjustment for the best possible laser output can be done using the controls available in the ‘Shape Properties’ tab. Right-click the image for easy access to these options.

[Richie (Richard wheatley)]

@sasquatch, I’ve done a speed vs PWR test on a 3mm
Didn’t see the point in going much further.
Ignore the blocks marked in red pen, some of them had 2 layers.!

I’ve used the gimp program…what settings do you think “might” work best for a photo?

[Prometheus (Jeremy B)]

I think you don’t have enough resolution in speed and power more to power on your test. Try to be at the low end for power. For me I am at the limit were the laser just has enough power to fire. My speed is also at the slow end.

[LightBurn (Oz)]

For photo speed I usually go at least 100mm/sec, most often 150 or higher. Power would be somewhere between 10% and 15%. The most important thing to get right is the DPI. If you are too high with that, it’ll ruin everything.

[Richie (Richard wheatley)]

Results so far…

Any feed back would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so far for all your helps.

[LightBurn (Oz)]

It looks like you’re close. The 0.17 interval is probably too large, but the 0.1 is a bit too low. I would try 0.14, and increase the power to 13 and see how that looks. Could go to 150mm/sec and 14% power.

[Sasquatch (тнє gяєαт ρα¢ιfι¢ иσятнωєѕт)]

You can improve your photo output tremendously by darkening the edges of your photo before you bring it into Lightburn. Gimp

So that you do not lose the outline of the faces and the ear or the nose on the baby

These are the areas to “burn in” the photo processing software (I.e Gimp )

Here is a tutorial on how to do that

Simple Dodge & Burn in GIMP 2.10

Cheers

Sasquatch

[Richie (Richard wheatley)]

A massive thank you to all those that helped.
I’ve been working away, until a neighbour gave me a project, then naturally requested it on slate.
Without all your help, I could not have got this far.
I will continue to strive for better results and always welcome constructive criticism.
Once again thanks so far…

[JVL (Jan VanderLinden)]

An excellent piece of that you can be proud of.

[Sasquatch (тнє gяєαт ρα¢ιfι¢ иσятнωєѕт)]

Excellent work ! Glad you did not give up. Every day you will get better and better!

Here is my suggestion to improve on your artwork

Cheers and keep up the GREAT work

Sasquatch