Question 1

Why choose us?

Accepted Answer

Why Choose Laser Map Maker for Your Laser Engraving & Cutting Projects?

Laser Map Maker is the only platform designed specifically for laser engraving and cutting, tailored to meet the unique needs of this craft. Whether you’re creating intricate designs or large-scale maps, Laser Map Maker offers a suite of powerful tools that make the process easier, faster, and more precise. Here’s why you should choose us:

1. Laser-Specific Tailoring

Laser Map Maker tailors map data exclusively for laser engraving and cutting. For example, some users may want a red outline of roads because their laser is set up to cut red svg paths. We give you the ability to define those line widths and colors in the studio ahead of time.

2. Build and Duplicate Projects Quickly

Projects Dashboard With our intuitive platform, you can easily build new projects or duplicate existing ones. This flexibility is ideal for creating consistent, repeatable designs. Whether you’re working on multiple copies of a map or iterating on your design, you can save time and effort with just a few clicks.

3. Starter Templates for Fast Results

We offer starter templates that provide you with basic, pre-layered map files. In just

Question 2

Starter Template - A beginners friend

Accepted Answer

Creating a custom map for your laser project has never been easier. With the Starter Template in Laser Map Maker, you can quickly generate a map with three essential layers: Water, Land, and Roads. Follow these simple steps to go from map creation to export in just a few minutes!

Step 1: Start with the Starter Template

When you create a new project in Laser Map Maker, choose the Starter Template. This template automatically generates a basic map with three layers: Water, Land, and Roads. It's a great starting point for most laser mapping projects.

Step 2: Use the Search Tool to Find Your Location

Use the search tool to find your desired location on the map. Simply type the name of the area or coordinates and the map will zoom in to your chosen spot.

Step 3: Adjust Your Map View

Once you've located your area, use the pan and zoom features to adjust the map to your liking. Whether you're focusing on a specific region or zooming out for a broader view, you have full control of the map's scale and focus.

Step 4: Export Your Map Layers

After you've positioned the map just how you want it, you’re ready to export. Simply click on the **Preview ** Export butto

Question 3

How to Import and Set Up Laser Map Maker Files in LightBurn for Engraving and Cutting

Accepted Answer

How to Import and Set Up Laser Map Maker Files in LightBurn for Engraving and Cutting

When you export files from Laser Map Maker to LightBurn, each layer comes with its own outside alignment border. These borders are consistent across layers, making it easier to align and cut layers when preparing your laser engraving or cutting job. In this guide, we'll walk you through how to use these files in LightBurn and get your project set up properly for laser cutting and engraving.

Layers Overview

This example uses a classic 3-layer map: Water, Land, and Roads. The exported files will be:

Land-Cut Layer
Land-Engrave Layer
Roads-Cut Layer
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Before You Start!

After exporting from Laser Map Maker, download the zip folder containing the "output" files. Import them one by one into LightBurn (do not import them all at once). A convenient method is dragging them into LightBurn from your desktop. Remember the name of each file for reference.

We recommend using our Starter Template to create a project before proceeding with the steps below.

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Step-by-Step Guide

1. Water Cut Job Setup

For the Water Cut job, we will modify the Land-Cut layer.

In LightBurn:
Copy the Land-Cut Layer and ungroup the contents.
Delete the inside frame of the Land-Cut layer.
Delete the outside alignment border (this is for align

Question 4

Creating a Project

Accepted Answer

In the Laser Map Maker dashboard, projects are central to managing your work. Each project contains your layers, features, tools, settings, and formatting preferences. You can easily rename, duplicate, delete, or create a new project from the dashboard to help keep your work organized and accessible.

Below, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for creating a new project from your dashboard.

How to Create a New Project

Overview:
Creating a new project allows you to start fresh and organize your map layers, tools, and features. Here’s how to create a new project from the dashboard.

Steps:

Go to the Dashboard: Open your project dashboard.
Click on ‘New Project’: Look for the New Project button (located at the top right of the dashboard).
Enter Project Details: A form will appear asking for your project’s name and any other relevant details, such as template choices or initial settings.
Choose Your Template: You can start from our Starter Template with predefined layers/features, or choose the Blank Template to start from scratch. ![Choose a Template](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/633f9c1f8271f400/screenshot-2025-01-04-at-11372_jy074.

Question 5

Configure a Layer Border

Accepted Answer

How to Configure a Layer Border

Access Layer Settings:

Click on the three dots (ellipses) on the left-hand panel next to the layer name.
Select Settings (gear icon) from the menu.

Configure the Border:

Once in the settings menu, locate the Layer Border options.
You can adjust the border color and border width here.
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Example: Adjusting Border Width and Color

Border Width

You can increase or decrease the width of the border to suit the cutting job. A thicker border is often used for larger pieces to help prevent them from breaking apart during the cut.

Border Color

The border color is equally important, especially when dealing with cut pieces. To avoid accidental cuts or misalignment, the border color should match the layer or piece you want to keep.
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Best Practices for Border Configuration

When Cutting a Piece

Matching Border Color to the Layer: When working with a piece that has multiple features (e.g., land-fill and water-fill), ensure that the **border colo

Question 6

Satellite Overlay

Accepted Answer

How to Use the Satellite Overlay in the Studio

The Satellite Overlay in Laser Map Maker Studio provides a real-world satellite image to help you visualize and align your map with actual geography. This feature is especially useful when trying to pinpoint specific locations, locate landmarks, or adjust the map's details after using the search function. The satellite view can be adjusted for better clarity and toggled on and off based on your needs. It doesn't affect the layers or the final exported map, making it a convenient tool for reference during the design process.

This guide will show you how to use and adjust the Satellite Overlay for easier map creation.

Accessing the Satellite Overlay

The Satellite Overlay feature can be easily toggled and adjusted through the map workspace. Here’s how to get started:

Locate the Satellite Overlay Controls

In the map workspace, find the Satellite Overlay toggle button, typically located in the top-right corner of the interface.

Toggle e the Satellite Overlay

Click the Satellite Overlay button to toggle the satellite image. This will display a real-world view of your map’s area, which you can use to identify land

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