Magical save-the-date wedding announcements with laser cut paper
Now is the time for celebration, and we want to start by making sure the announcement sets the tone for your memorable occasion.
Julia and Mateo were looking for a save-the-date that would spark wonder and excitement for their wedding.
Drawing inspiration from tunnel books—layer-cut paper accordion books that create an illusion of depth—we designed a four-layer image of the ceremony location housed in a custom box.
The magic of laser cutting is that it can create maximum impact on a tiny scale. It gives guests a reminder they won't want to throw away or add to the refrigerator magnet forest.
Below is a behind-the-scenes look at how we created this piece that’s as distinctive as your wedding.
Do you have an upcoming event you'd like to commemorate with a laser-cut paper creation? Significant birthday or anniversary? Graduation? Retirement? Book launch?
Step 1: The File
The first step is that we work together to translate your vision into an image in layers with a foreground, middle, and background. Next, each layer is drawn using the Pencil Tool in Adobe Illustrator. These vector lines give the laser cutter a path to follow to make the cut.
Are you both cyclists? Did you meet at the beach? Are you devoted to a cause or organization? You’d be surprised and delighted with the depth these layers can convey.
Architectural details will be created through scoring, a “cut” line that does not go all the way through the paper. To communicate to the laser cutter which lines are to be cut and which to score, the cut lines are color-coded blue and the score lines red.
Step 2: The Prototype
Next, we send the files to the laser cutter and make a prototype for your review.
Then it is back to the file to make adjustments and prototype again!
Step 3: Cut & Assemble
Once you approve the design, it is time to cut all the pieces and assemble.
Step 4: The Box
Julia wanted a box that matched the color pallet of the wedding. Since a commercially produced box was hard to find in the exact shade of iris blue, she opted for handcrafted. While the final boxes were made by a bookbinder whose mad box-making skills are beyond mine, I used the laser cutter to create the box for the prototype.
Pro-tip:
Stop designing laser cut box files from scratch! Have the Box-o-matic app create the files for you.
I can't take credit for this tip ... thank you, Rebecca Chamlee. Rebecca creates amazing prints and artist books, and integrates laser cutting into her hand-crafted practice. She is also the go-to person for printing photographs and color separations on the letterpress. Visit her website to learn more including where she is sharing her mad skills in upcoming workshops.