LASER PROJECT STUDIO — PROJECT GUIDE
OUR FIRST YEAR
Companion to LightBurn Made Clear (independent publication)

PROJECT OVERVIEW
Occasion: Anniversary
Skill level: Intermediate
Default artwork: M + K / EST. 2026
Illustrative total SVG sheet layout (at nominal 80 mm finished backing width): 80 × 80 mm.
For single-piece projects the selected width refers to the shape outline.
Design type: ornament
Suggested start mode: Cut + engrave
This design is ORIGINAL DIGITAL GEOMETRY; it has NOT been physically manufactured or certified on any laser.

WHAT YOU NEED
• A compatible LightBurn setup and a laser appropriate for the intended job.
• A manufacturer-approved material or ready-made blank.
• Appropriate protection, enclosure, extraction, supervision, and fire plan.
• A small piece of known safe test material and manufacturer documentation.

CUSTOMIZE IN THE ONLINE DESIGN STUDIO
1. Choose Our First Year in the library.
2. Edit the main personalization and optional second line. Empty second line means no text.
3. Choose the finished piece width. For Advanced, this is the BACKING WIDTH; the downloaded SVG layout is wider because it contains two parts.
4. For single-piece designs, select Engrave Only when using a ready-made blank. For layered Advanced builds the generator includes cut contours for TWO separate pieces and cutting requires additional operator verification.
5. Preview both the black engraved paths and, if enabled, the red contours. They are vector strokes, not filled raster artwork.
6. Download the project kit ZIP, then extract the SVG and this guide.

LIGHTBURN CHECKLIST
1. File > Import SVG. Verify imported width and height against the design specifications.
2. Confirm no missing or unexpected paths; inspect holes, outlines and text at useful zoom.
3. Assign black paths to the appropriate line-engrave operation. They are not solid fills.
4. If cutting, verify the red paths form the intended cut silhouettes and internal openings. Set operation and output states deliberately.
5. Do NOT use power, speed, line interval, pass count, or machine settings from an unrelated laser. Follow your manufacturer's supported range and run your own material test.
6. Preview the toolpath, confirm origin, focus and frame. Check usable bed dimensions and secure the workpiece.
7. Use effective ventilation/extraction, eye protection as appropriate, enclosure/fire precautions and continuous supervision.
8. If anything behaves unexpectedly, stop and reassess before continuing.

PROJECT-SPECIFIC NOTES
If cutting: inspect the two red circular paths. The inner red circle forms the hanging hole. Use enough material around the hole for your intended use.

DIFFICULTY PATHWAY
INTERMEDIATE — Prepare both cut and engraved paths, inspect holes and spacing, practice origin and cutting order after approved material tests.


DESIGN LIMITATIONS
• No speed or power presets included. No G-code, machine profiles, or automated burn commands.
• The geometry is digitally generated and XML-valid, not hardware-certified.
• Printed colors are for grouping imported geometry. They do not guarantee matching LightBurn operations.
• Vector-path lettering cannot be edited as ordinary text inside LightBurn; change it in the online generator.
• Machine safety, material suitability and physical tolerances must be verified by the person operating the laser.

OFFICIAL REFERENCE LINKS
https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/latest/Reference/FileManagement/
https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/latest/Reference/MaterialTest/
https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/latest/Safety/

LICENSE: Physical products you make may be sold; do not redistribute digital files. See LICENSE.txt.
