Laser Cutting Paper Designs with Abigail McMurray

When it comes to laser cutting paper designs, one of the artistic concerns is the fear of "burn" residue discoloring the paper. This was true for paper-cutting artist Abigail McMurray.

Contrary to popular belief, paper can be laser cut without burning.

Sarah PikeJune 9, 2022laser cutting, laser cutting paper, laser cutting paper designs, abigail mcmurray, paper cutting art, how to laser cut paper without burning, custom house portraits, house portraits

Laser Cutting for Colleges & Universities

Is there a printmaking process or book form you’re teaching that you’d like to incorporate with laser cutting? Let’s collaborate!

Sarah PikeFebruary 25, 2021laser cutting, laser cut, laser engraving, printmaking, colleges, universities, remote learning, hybrid learning, zoom, workshops, artist book, artist books, University of Alabama, Millersville University, waterless lithography, letterpress, lithography

Laser Cutting for a Happy New Year

Learn about FreeFall Laser’s Happy New Year laser cut card.

Sarah PikeJanuary 25, 2021laser cu, laser cutting, yeti, happy new year, branding, direct mail, marketing, folded card, holiday card

Engraving Japanese Paper

Learn how to laser engrave Japanese paper. Using delicate settings the laser cutter can be set to engrave the faintest whisper onto paper or pushed to the edge, engraving away all but a few fibers.

Sarah PikeMarch 25, 2020laser cut, laser engraving, laser cutter, laser cutting, freefalllaser, artist, artist books, bookbinder, papermaker, printmaking

How air becomes water

Learn about Carrie Scanga’s latest instillation SANCTUARY that includes 76, 11 foot laser cut panels.

Sarah PikeJanuary 24, 2020laser cut, laser cutting, laser cutter, carrie scanga, studio sessions, artit, instillation, university of new england, contemporary art

Engraving Acrylic Slipcases

Laser engraving acrylic to create a sandblasted look.

Sarah PikeSeptember 3, 2019sandblasted, laser cut, laser cutting, laser engraving, Maureen Cummins, artist books, bookbinding, slipcase, SmallCorp, refugees, Syria, Iraq

Laser-Litho

Learn what laser cutters and lithography can do together.

Sarah PikeMarch 22, 2019lithography, laser cut, laser cutting, laser engraving, freefalllaser, sgcinternational, sgci2019, printmaking, print, stonelithography

New Techniques for Bookbinders

For the last two months, bookbinder Peter Geraty and I have been meeting on Sunday afternoons to experiment with new laser-cutting applications for bookbinders in preparation for the Guild of Book Workers conference

Sarah PikeSeptember 1, 2018artist books, bookbinder, guild of book workers, Standards, leather, laser cutting, laser cut, laser engraving, freefall laser, peter geraty

One thing leads to another

In this post I take you through how making 250 "The Great Wave" sample books for PaperSpecs inspired an inlay for my booth at the WoodenBoat Show, and ultimately got me thinking, Is there a place for wood inlay in my own work?

Sarah PikeJuly 1, 2018PaperSpecs, sample book, laser cutting, laser cutter, japanese print, marquetry, woodworking, wooden boat, sketchbook, Sarah Pike

Wood Inlay & Marquetry

In this post I share with you how laser-cutting an inlay for a nineteenth-century piano stool designed by Alma-Tadema led me to visit woodworker Silas Kopf, where I gained a greater understanding of traditional inlay and marquetry.

Sarah PikeJune 1, 2017laser cutting, inlay, woodworking, marquetry, silas kopf, Clark Art Institute, Alma-Tadema, piano

Adventures in Laser Cutting

The fine art of laser cutting services in wood, paper, acrylic, fabric, leather, and much more.

FreeFall Laser is located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, convenient to Boston and New York City, as well as to Troy and Albany, New York, and Northampton, Massachusetts. I work remotely with clients across the country.