A clear view of the bed
Check the incoming artwork and its position before running the job.
SOFTWARE THAT FITS YOUR WORKSHOP
From the first idea
to the finished job.
A drawing studio, a printer driver and a machine interface. Choose where your artwork starts; keep a clear view of what reaches your laser.
FORMA2D / DRAW + MAKE
One place to turn
an idea into artwork.
Precise 2D drawing that feels at home in a classroom, design studio or small workshop.
Create lines, shapes and lettering, enter exact dimensions, snap to existing geometry and refine individual nodes. Trace photographs, prepare engraving images or capture an idea with a supported camera.
The browser drawing demonstration opens without an account. Software access and machine integration: POA.
forma2D
Draw. Prepare. Process.
- Measured geometry, snapping and node editing
- Shape operations, fillets, chamfers and mirrors
- Vector lettering, bitmap tracing and dithering
- Touch input and camera capture on supported devices
- Browser edition for PCs, Chromebooks and tablets
- Editable projects saved locally
With a supported controller-upgrade configuration: draw and prepare the artwork, then process the job directly through Forma’s machine interface. The supported workflow and software are confirmed for your machine.
SLS / THE PRINTER DRIVER
Use the design
package you know.
Virtually any design package capable of printing can send raster and vector artwork through the SLS printer driver on a supported computer.
- 01
Create the artwork
Set the page, dimensions, spacing, positions and copies in your design software.
- 02
Choose Print
Select your upgraded machine’s printer, shown here as “Legacy Laser Cutter”. Check the page and scaling, then send your layout.
- 03
Check and process
Review the SLS preview, select material and processing settings, then send the prepared job to the compatible laser.
Your printed layout stays yours.
Printed jobs are immutable artwork: their geometry, size, spacing and placement are set in the source design software. SLS is the bridge to the laser, with material and processing controls. To change a printed design, edit it in the original application and print again.
Printer-driver installation requires a supported computer. Browser access to Forma2D and printer-driver compatibility are separate; discuss your devices and machine with us.
SLS / PREPARE + CONTROL
See the job.
Set the process.
A focused interface for laser job preparation and machine operation, with the information you need together on screen.
Prepare photographic engraving
Compare image processing and dithering settings using the engraving preview.
Start with the material
Choose an appropriate material profile and review the settings for the intended operation.
Return to previous work
Find earlier jobs using recognisable filenames and job information.
Screens show representative example jobs. Machine connection and available operations depend on the installed system and agreed configuration.
A DIFFERENT STARTING POINT
Existing file?
Bring it into SLS.
Imported files can be moved, repositioned and copied in the machine interface.
This gives you flexibility when arranging supported imported artwork on the bed. Printed jobs keep their source layout; imported jobs offer placement controls. SLS is for preparing and running jobs, while your design application remains the place for creating and editing the artwork itself.
Three ways to work
- Draw in Forma2D
- Design and process directly with a supported controller-upgrade configuration.
- Print from design software
- Keep the finished artwork and layout fixed from the source.
- Import an existing file
- Move, reposition and copy supported artwork in SLS.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Let’s demonstrate your workflow.
Bring a typical design, tell us which computer and machine you use, and we’ll work through the route from artwork to laser.