Glowforge Custom Laser Engraved Slate Coasters

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Stone, Slate or Ceramic

DIRECTIONS:

1. For this project, create a design from scratch using the tools built into the Glowforge® App.
2. Navigate to app.glowforge.com.
3. Click "create a new design" in the top left corner & select "create a new blank design" from the drop-down menu.
4. You can also print a design that was created or purchased elsewhere.
5. Click "create a new design" in the top left corner, select "upload a design" & upload a PDF or SVG.
6. Follow the next steps to add extra customization or skip ahead to step 5 to start printing right away.
7. Start by picking an image for the center of the design by clicking the Plus button in the center of the toolbar to access more than 3 million print-ready icons.
8. Type to search for something specific using the search box or explore trending & seasonal collections.
9. Click the star to add icons to favorites or click the icon to add it to the design.
10. Add as many designs as you like to help bring your vision to life.
TIP: Search for "border" to find hundreds of decorative borders, flourishes & backgrounds.

11. Click the letter "T" in the toolbar to open the Text Tool & access thousands of fonts.
12. Heart your favorites & adjust size, alignment & bold level from the Text Tool modal.
13. Explore the "Styles" menu to warp text to fit almost any situation.
TIP: After applying a Text Style, the "Options" button at the bottom right of the Text Tool will illuminate.

14. Click this button to expand additional options to fine tune the shape of the text until it's just right.
15. Continue to add design elements to build design.
16. Remember, you can cut, copy, paste, resize & rotate the design.
17. When you're happy with your composition, group the parts to maintain their size & arrangement: Simply drag to select the appropriate parts, & either right click & choose "Group" or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + G (CMD + G on a Mac)
18. Open Glowforge & load slate coaster into the middle of the printer bed.
19. You'll see the image in the Glowforge App update to show the material.

NOTE:
The slate coaster isn't a Proofgrade material but you can utilize settings from a different material in the materials menu. Click "unknown material" in the top left corner, type "Light Cherry Plywood", & click to select it. Glowforge isn't able to cut slate, so we'll use the engrave or score settings for this project.
The slate coaster is probably thicker than a piece of Light Cherry Plywood, so use the Set Focus tool for additional accuracy.


20. This takes a detailed photo of the material at a specific position & adjusts the image to provide the greatest level of accuracy.
21. Click the 3 dots menu in the toolbar, choose "Set Focus" & click where you plan on placing your print.
22. The image of the material might shift slightly.
23. Adjust design into its final position.
24. Be sure to vent the Glowforge out a window or into a Glowforge Air Filter.
25. If using an Air Filter, turn it on now.
26. Tell the Glowforge which parts of the design should be scored & engraved.
27. Remember, we can't cut the slate coaster so all elements of the design should be engraved or scored.
28. Working from the top down, click each print step on the left hand side & choose "Score" or "Engrave".
TIP: As you define the score & engrave parts of the design, notice the various parts of the design turn from a dull blue or red to a vibrant version of the same color. This is a handy indicator that all parts of the design are accounted for.

29. Click "Print" in the top right corner, & when the button starts to glow, press it.