Use case · Recipe boards
Handwritten recipe cutting boards from a photo
A recipe in a loved one's handwriting is one of the most-requested laser gifts. The hard part is getting the writing off an old, stained card and onto a board without fuzzy edges.
5 minute read · Free to follow · 2 free batch exports + 1 free single export included
Short answer
Photograph the card, trace it with the fine-script setting, clean off the paper texture, add a real-size board template from Starter templates, put the writing on the Engrave layer, and export a layered SVG.
Built into WeldWords
The photo tracer keeps thin pen strokes, removes paper grain without AI, and includes cutting board templates drawn as clean closed outlines with hanging holes, so writing and board come out registered in one file.
The tutorial explains what WeldWords is doing for you, plus what to check before you cut.
What you need
- A clear photo of the recipe card
- Your board size in mm or inches
- Laser software that imports SVG
- The WeldWords photo tracer
Step by step
Step 1
Photograph the recipe card flat
Shoot straight down in daylight with the card filling the frame. Use Straighten if the photo was taken at an angle.
Step 2
Trace with Fine script & dates
Upload it to the photo tracer and tap the Fine script & dates card. It keeps thin pen strokes and small numbers.
Step 3
Drop the card texture and stains
Use Drop speckled texture and the keep/drop brush to remove paper grain, coffee rings and the table around the card.
Step 4
Add a board template
Open Starter templates → Recipe & kitchen boards and click a paddle, round or rectangle board. It arrives at real size with a hanging hole.
Step 5
Place the handwriting on the board
Drag and resize the traced recipe onto the board. Put the handwriting on the Engrave layer and keep the board outline on Cut.
Step 6
Export at true size
Download the layered SVG. Engrave and Cut arrive as separate groups so you can set power and speed for each in your laser software.
Tips that save material and time
- Engrave the handwriting; cutting thin pen strokes leaves fragile slivers.
- Keep handwriting at least 10 mm from the board edge and the hanging hole.
- Run a test engrave on scrap of the same wood first.
- Food-contact boards: engrave the back or a display side, and finish with a food-safe oil.
Questions people ask
Can I keep the original handwriting exactly?
Yes. The tracer follows the strokes in your photo. It does not redraw them with a font or AI.
Are the board templates real size?
Yes. Each one opens at its listed millimetre size, and you can resize it before export.
What if the card is stained?
Use the drop brush over stains and Drop speckled texture for paper grain. Heavy stains over the ink may still need hand cleanup.
Do it now instead of reading about it
Pick a board, trace the recipe, and export a layered file at true size.
Open a recipe board template