Truth be told, laser cutting is a far more diverse medium than you’d expect it to be. From business owners creating promotional materials or shop displays to hobbyists creating laser cut decor or party favours, our team at Vector & Raster has seen a wide range of highly creative, innovative, and thoughtful laser cutting projects.
Spanning all the many projects we’ve covered in detail in our blog, however, there are definitely some that have stood out. Most of the time, the projects that stick with us are those that see our laser cutting technicians here at Vector & Raster getting to flex their own creative muscles and hone their problem solving skills.
It’s for this reason and many many more that at Vector & Raster, our laser cutting technicians absolutely love partnering up with local artists to create some seriously singular laser cut projects. And as you can see from the attached image showcasing the finished results of this laser cut wood art project, it was unique, and boasted a mild level of detail compared to some of the challenging designs our laser cutting team is used to.
But enough beating around the bush – let’s get into it!
Benefits of working with wood for laser cut art
We’ve spoken about our passion for working with wood materials across laser cutting and engraving projects in the past. The natural high contrast finish of laser cut or laser engraved wood makes these creations feel timeless. And if you’re working with plywood for laser cutting, your plywood laser cut art could also be hand-painted or customised in other ways, thanks to the uniform texture of plywood sheets.
But no matter what kind of wood materials you’re working with, you can expect your finished results to be quite versatile. From creating consumer products like plywood model kits or even personalised gifts like Christmas ornaments, bookmarks, or even wedding favours, wood laser cutting projects can really come in any shape or scope.
The hard-wearing surface of wood materials responds exceptionally well to laser cutting machines, allowing laser cutting technicians to create highly intricate end products – even going so far as to mimic the feathers of a pigeon with nothing but air and plywood.
So to recap, working with wood for creating laser cut art provides these key benefits:
- A high-contrast finish
- Durable end products
- Allows for highly intricate, detailed designs
- A range of wood materials are available to suit your budget (i.e. plywood, MDF, solid wood, etc.)
Other great materials for creating laser cut art
Although wood laser cutting is definitely a fan favourite across both our clients and our cutting technicians here at Vector & Raster, it’s important to note that there are a range of other laser cutting materials that you can select from when looking to produce laser cut art.
Here are some of the other notable materials that our laser cutting technicians have worked with for creating laser cut art projects:
- Metals – from stainless steel to aluminium, brass, copper, and more, our laser cutting technicians have been laser cutting metals for a range of different projects, including for art installations and in the production of home decor and other consumer products.
- Plastics – laser cut acrylic is commonly used for creating durable and aesthetic home decor, designer jewellery, visual merchandising for retail/commercial environments, and for a wide variety of other creative and practical applications.
- Paper – a unique and surprisingly versatile material for laser cut art, our technicians have been laser cutting paper to produce shop displays and decor, wallpaper borders and decals, product packaging, swing tags, greeting cards, and a variety of other fascinating and detailed creations.
- Leather – much like wood, laser engraving leather creates a unique, high-contrast finish, which allows for some naturally timeless artistic creations. Our laser cutters have used leather to create laser cut fashion garments, leather accents for handbags, wallets, and belts, and even leather bookmarks as personalised gifts.
- Fashion Fabrics – our laser cutting technicians here at Vector & Raster have been privileged to work with Australian fashion designers and retailers to create everything from swimwear and activewear using laser cut lycra, to using a range of cloth fabrics for embroidery appliqué cutting.
Our latest laser cut wood art project
Now without further ado, let’s look at our latest laser cut wood art project. Our laser cutters were approached by a Melbourne-based artist with a pretty memorable project pitch: they wanted several different types of laser cut bird shapes with a few quirky designs. Our personal favourite was the pigeon in a top hat, which you can see above!
The client provided their own plywood materials for completing these laser cut wood art pieces. The plywood was sent to our studios directly from the client’s plywood manufacturer. Once we’d received the materials and the designs from the client via email, we got straight to work and nested as many of the cutouts as we could within the sheets provided, keeping in mind they need to be cut into equal sets. With some strategic planning, our laser cutting technicians were able to produce all the laser cut bird shapes within the plywood sheets provided and with minimal project waste.
The end results aligned perfectly with the client’s designs, showcasing accurate proportions, clean edges, and the ideal amount of detail, from feathers to beaks to chicken feets. So from here, we carefully packaged the laser cut birds for safe transport, and delivered them to our client. No doubt, our friend the pigeon can be found pecking around Melbourne in their everlasting style!
Create laser cut wood art with our technicians at V&R Laser Services
As you can see, there’s no shortage to what you can do with a wood laser cutter. With a little creativity and vision, you can produce original artistic creations from any material, including laser cut wood.
If you’d like to experiment with wood laser cuttings as your next artistic medium, then be sure to get in touch with our team at Vector & Raster. With a passion for creating only the most high-quality wood laser cuttings for a range of different projects and applications, as well as a commitment to maintaining sustainable production processes by utilising renewable energy and sustainably sourced materials, our laser cutting studios are primed to support you in your next laser cut wood art project, no matter its size or scope.
Contact our studios today to receive a free no-obligation quote on your next laser cut wood art project.
