Lazrit
Material

Laser-Cut Cardstock: Wedding Cards, Invites, and Paper Art

Cardstock is a step up from copy paper in weight and a step down from chipboard. It's the standard for wedding invitations, greeting cards, and bookbinding. Lazrit treats it the same as paper: 1 mm bridge, 0.5 mm minimum detail. The differences come at the laser — heavier stock takes more power, less speed, more potential for char at high power.

3 lifetime exports — no credit card.

Recommended cut settings

SettingDefault
Default thickness0.3 mm
Minimum bridge width1 mm
Minimum detail0.5 mm

Why cardstock cuts differently from paper

The fiber bundles are tighter and the material is denser, so the laser dwells longer at any given speed. Increase power or slow the cut — don't double-pass, which yellows the cut edge.

Recommended settings

110 lb cardstock on a 40 W CO2: ~120 mm/s at 35% power. Air assist on. Test a corner before committing to a full sheet.

How Lazrit prepares cardstock files

Same pipeline as paper. The output SVG works in LightBurn, Glowforge, xTool — anything that takes SVG.

Foiling and embossing notes

Lazrit produces cut paths only. Post-processing — foil application, heat embossing — happens after the cut. Mark engrave-layer paths if you want score lines for folds.

Frequently asked questions

How heavy of cardstock can a hobby laser cut?

A 40 W CO2 handles up to about 250 gsm cleanly. Heavier stocks need multiple passes or more power.

Can I cut chipboard with the cardstock profile?

Chipboard is denser and chars more — start with the cardstock profile as a baseline, then expect to tune power up and speed down by 30%+ on the laser.

Will tape on the bed mark the cardstock?

Sometimes. Painter's tape is usually safe; some Kraft masking tape leaves residue. Test before a full run.

Does Lazrit support gradient engrave on cardstock?

No — engrave layer is on/off only. For halftone or gradient burns, use a tool built for that workflow.

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