RDWorks Learning Lab 25 Convert photos for engraving

If you own a Chinese laser cutter this little series of videos about me learning how to use the free software provided, may solve the problem of trying to learn from a virtually unreadable manual.
I am nothing to do with RD Works, I am not an instructor and I am no expert. This series will document the essential bits of many hours of trial and error

[MrMousseau]

I recently acquired a similar laser machine as yours. These videos have been incredibly valuable for me, thank you for taking the time to share your process on how to use both the machine and the RDWorks software!

[tobyskaats]

Thank you. This Chinese translation to English is killing me. I appreciate what you have done here

[EventRentalSystems]

The Chinglish is good for some chuckles but headache inducing when looking for actual information. I love this approach of converting to a line drawing. It looks so much better than many of the other approaches. Also, thanks for the tips on the rotary tool. The software sure lead me down a bad path. You saved me.

[robweinstein]

Yes I've seen just about all of your videos. I used the rotary tool yesterday for the first time. I've tried glass (the cracking noises are a bit unsettling lol) and I've cut some small wooden signs. Like you, all for fun. No clue what I'll do next.

[libob]

nice videos and thanks for sharing of your experience knowledge.

[angelavuong]

Awesome - do you have tutorials on Acrylic engrave? Thanks

[terraaccmsl]

how to engrave photo according to the picture shape not just square ? i mean it will engrave according to the dog's head, not all of it (square)

[jetranger]

I'm still working my way through your excellent series and trying to work out what all the different icons are on the design software supplied with my machine.I am not a patient man and software is not my forte.What is the padlock symbol for?When I click it nothing seems to happen.

[sen]

Thank you for your time and effort! I'm thinking of purchasing a 50W laser and you have answered a lot of my questions
Following your post on making coasters with bitmap images. Doesn't photoshop have a bitmap to vector conversation. This would give you lines to delete or group as you see fit.

Thanks again!!!
Art

[sfkillar]

I've stepped away from the laser for a while. life got in the way this summer. now I'm back. I'm having trouble trying to figure out how to import an image for cutting instead of scanning. here's what I'm trying to do. I want to make a template out of Plexiglas for spray painting pumpkin faces onto old refrigerant cylinders. I copied the image (png file) onto my computer and imported in into RDWorks but it shows as a scan only and I cant figure out how to separate the individual lines for cutting. I've tried importing into CS6 Photoshop and erase the background. and have also tried a bunch of different vector files with no luck. I haven't found a video yet to show the process for what I'm trying to do. I've spent hours and hours trying to figure this out.

[sylviesaunier]

Hello, thank you for your very informative videos. Unfortunately, I speak very bad English, and I can not understand how you proceed so that the white background (behind the dog's head) does not graze. Me, when I have a silhouette, it makes me a gray background in the simulation that gets worse, and that even if I have a white background in my image ... Can you help me?

[billdelrow]

Thanks for all of your time and efforts in creating these videos. I recently purchased a Chinese 50W laser and you've saved me a significant amount of trial and error learning. One question for you about the RDWorks software. Whenever I etch from a photo, the image at the laser is reversed (mirrored). Do you mirror all of your work in RDWorks or, is there a setting that I'm missing? As you well know, the manual is all but useless.

[machine]

I keep getting the error "no enough extend space".  Can you share your wisdom on this annoying error?  Thank you!

[mathewtaylor]

Another great tutorial! Thanks for sharing. I wondered if you have yet tried engraving such an image purely with vectors? I believe there's a way of filling/hatching with them, but not sure how.

[HeirloomGameCalls]

Hello Russ, what computer and programming would you suggest to set up with??? I have a brand new 60 watt machine coming next week

[sirvaldo]

how to cut from import files? this program RDWorks support only scan

[kldinup]

Awesome! How many watts is this machine? : ))

[sfkillar]

What does "not enough extended space" mean?