V-Carve Text · 5 minute guide
V-Carve Text: Depth Maps from Any Font
A V-carved groove is geometry, not generation. Pick a font, set the bit angle and depth budget, and export a true 16-bit depth map that cuts exactly as calculated.
By Scott Bedow, Founder & Lead Developer · Published July 18, 2026 · Updated July 19, 2026
Manufacturing manager who runs CO2, diode and MOPA fiber lasers; builds and maintains every Reticle Red tool.
Method — Walked end to end in the live tool before publishing. Screens and step order match the current build; settings shown are starting points to validate on scrap.
What this tutorial covers
- Why a V-carve depth map is exact geometry rather than an AI guess, and what that buys you.
- How to read the measured stroke ratio so you pick a font that survives a V bit.
- Setting the bit angle and depth budget, and what flat-bottomed clamping means on the part.
- Exporting a 16-bit PNG at true millimetre scale and dialling in your LightBurn 3D slice depth.
- Batching one depth map per name so a run of tags shares a single machine setup.
1. Choose readable text and a suitable font
Enter the wording and choose a font with strokes that can survive the selected V bit. Inspect counters, narrow joins and small letters at the intended finished size.
2. Set the bit and depth budget
Enter the V-bit angle and limit the cut depth for the stock. Review the generated depth preview and adjust the text size or font when narrow details cannot be machined cleanly.
3. Export and verify the machine setup
Download the depth map and import it into the receiving workflow. Confirm physical dimensions, Z scale and the machine zero before cutting a small test; a convincing preview does not establish a safe cutting depth.
4. Prepare repeated names
For a batch, supply the names and review the longest and shortest entries before export. Keep the font, bit angle and stock setup consistent while checking that every name fits its assigned area.
Validate the workflow on your machine
Treat the finished file as a controlled starting point, not a universal machine recipe. Confirm the artwork dimensions after import, verify focus and lens selection, and run a small test on scrap from the same material batch before committing the production piece. Change one variable at a time when tuning speed, power, frequency, line interval, or pass count. Record the machine, source wattage, lens, material finish, focus method, and final settings with the saved job. That short production note makes the result repeatable for the next operator and prevents a strong screen preview from being mistaken for a proven burn.