Section 8: Quick Start Guide; Artwork Setup - Epilog Fusion M2 32 Manual

SECTION 8: QUICK START GUIDE

Artwork Setup

Artwork Setup
Create your job in the graphics software of your choice, such as CorelDraw or Adobe Illustrator. There are three different
modes of operation for the laser and the way you setup your artwork will determine if you raster engrave, vector cut, or
use combined mode.
Raster Engraving
Raster engraving can best be described as very high
resolution dot matrix "printing" with a laser. Raster
engraving is used to create highly detailed graphic
images. The laser head scans back and forth, left to right,
engraving a series of dots one line at a time. As the laser
head moves down line by line, the dot pattern forms the
image that was printed from your computer. You can raster
engrave scanned images, text, clipart, photographs, or line
drawings.
This artwork is a good representation of a raster file. The
photograph of the tiger will raster engrave, as will the text
that has been placed on the page.
Vector Cutting
When you are vector cutting, the laser is following a continuous
path that follows the outline, or profile, of an image. Vector
cutting is normally used to cut completely through materials
such as wood, acrylic, paper, etc. It can also be used for quick
marking of characters and geometric patterns. You can vector
cut with the laser by setting objects and text to be unfilled and
drawn with a 0.001" (0.025 mm) outline. The thin outline will
produce a vector cut.
This graphic shows a vector image made up of lines. You can
tell it is a vector image because you can individually select any
of the lines and manipulate that part of the graphic.
When vector cutting, we always suggest that you use the Vector Cutting Table or Pin Table to protect the back of your
material as well as your table from laser marking.
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