Laser 101 · Materials
Laser cutting paper and cardstock.
A laser cuts paper and cardstock with detail no knife or die can match — fine lattice, tiny text, delicate filigree, all repeatable.
What the laser cuts — paper, card and board
A CO₂ laser handles the full paper family: copy and text-weight paper, cardstock and cover stock, bristol and poster board, kraft paper, corrugated cardboard, chipboard, and matboard or museum board. Each cuts to a crisp edge, and the laser can hold detail far finer than a blade or die.
Lighter papers cut fast and clean; heavier boards take a little more power but still come out sharp. Cardboard and chipboard in particular are workhorse materials for packaging mock-ups and scale models, where you want to iterate quickly and cheaply.
Clean edges and fine detail
The laser is a non-contact tool — nothing presses on the sheet — so it cuts intricate, lace-like artwork that would tear or crush under a knife. Tiny interior cut-outs, fine lettering, and delicate filigree all hold their shape.
Edges come out clean. Some papers pick up a very faint toasted line where the beam passes; we tune power and speed to keep that minimal, and on bright-white or delicate stock we can mask the surface or run a lighter pass. For unusual, heavily coated, or colored stock, send a sample and we will dial it in first.
Scoring and folding
Beyond cutting all the way through, the laser can score — a shallow surface line that lets paper or board fold crisply and consistently. That is what makes clean pop-up cards, gift boxes, packaging nets, and folded invitations possible.
Map your cut lines and score lines to different colors in the file and we run both in a single pass, so every fold lands exactly where you drew it.
Designing for paper
Send vector files (AI, DXF, or PDF) at 1:1 scale. The thing to watch is fragility: very thin webs between cuts, hair-thin islands, and tall skinny shapes can tear when the finished piece is weeded and handled. Keep small connecting bridges where a design needs them, and we will flag anything that looks too delicate before we cut.
For multi-piece or layered designs, send the layers separated or clearly labeled and we nest them efficiently on the sheet to keep material use — and cost — down.
What people make with laser-cut paper
Wedding and event stationery, invitations, and place cards; pop-up and layered greeting cards; packaging prototypes, boxes, and folding cartons; architectural models in chipboard and museum board; gift tags and favor boxes; intricate paper art and shadow boxes; reusable stencils; and layered signage backers. For short runs and prototypes, the laser turns a file into finished pieces the same day.
Common questions
Can you laser cut cardboard and chipboard?
Yes. Paper, cardstock, corrugated cardboard, chipboard, matboard, and museum board all cut cleanly. Cardboard and chipboard are popular for packaging prototypes and architectural models.
Will the cut edges be burnt?
Edges come out clean. Some papers take on a very faint toasted line at the edge; we tune power and speed to keep it minimal, and on bright-white or delicate stock we can mask the surface or run a lighter pass.
How intricate can the detail be?
Far finer than a craft knife — the laser holds lace-like detail and tiny interior cut-outs. The limit is the paper itself: extremely thin webs and islands can tear, so we flag anything too fragile before cutting.
Can you score fold lines?
Yes. A score is a shallow surface line that folds cleanly without cutting through — ideal for pop-up cards, boxes, and packaging nets. Map cut and score to different colors in your file and we run both in one pass.
Can you cut coated or laminated paper?
Most coated and printed stock is fine. Foil, plastic lamination, or vinyl layers are not — they can melt or release fumes. If you are unsure, send a sample and we will test it first.
Cutting a paper project?
Industrial CO₂ lasers, beds up to 46 by 58 inches, in downtown Los Angeles. A real person checks every job.