Dragon Paper Cutting

Place the scratch paper flat on the laser bed. A smooth, stable surface helps keep the butterfly engraving consistent and reduces the risk of the material shifting during the job.

Secure the paper gently if needed, making sure it stays flat without damaging the scratchable surface. Keep the material clear of anything that could obstruct the laser head or interfere with the engraving area.

Open LightBurn and import the scratch paper butterfly design file. Adjust the design size to fit your material, then position it within the machine's working area.

Check the layout and remove or adjust any design elements as needed. Before starting, confirm that the design is assigned to the correct engraving process and review the speed, power, DPI, and air-pressure settings.

The settings shown in this tutorial are a starting point for the demonstrated material and machine. Test on a spare piece first, as different scratch paper coatings may respond differently to laser engraving.

Correct focus helps the laser reproduce the fine details of the butterfly design. If your machine supports autofocus, use the approved autofocus procedure. For manual focusing, follow the machine's instructions and use the focus stick as directed to set the correct distance between the laser head and the material surface.

Make sure the scratch paper remains flat and within the recommended focal range. If the material is uneven, reposition it before continuing.

Use LightBurn's Frame function to check the design's position and working area. Make sure the frame fits the scratch paper and that the butterfly pattern stays within the material boundaries.

Once the alignment and settings are confirmed, start the engraving job. Paper is combustible, so stay beside the machine and continuously monitor the process. If you notice flames, unexpected smoke, or abnormal machine behavior, stop the job and follow the machine's safety procedures. Never leave the laser running unattended.

When the engraving is complete and the machine is safe to open, carefully remove the scratch paper from the laser bed. Check that the engraved butterfly pattern is clear and that the intended contrasting layer has been revealed.

No additional finishing may be necessary if the design is clean and the surface is undamaged. If the engraving is too light or some details are missing, adjust the settings and test again on a spare piece instead of immediately repeating the job on the finished butterfly.

Your scratch paper butterfly is now ready to use as a decorative accent for cards, gifts, packaging, or other creative displays.