Bring Your Hometown to Life: 3D Laser-Cut Map

For this project, I wanted to create something personal and meaningful. Recently, my parents bought a beach house in Spring Lake, New Jersey, which has quickly become an important and lasting part of our lives. I decided to celebrate our new home by making a piece that captured both the geography and character of a place that already feels like home.

To do this, I designed a 3D map of Spring Lake using a laser cutter. I initially followed YouTube tutorials for multi-layered maps but quickly realized how complicated the process was for a beginner. Between learning new software and figuring out how to use the laser cutter, I encountered plenty of trial and error. Through persistence and experimentation, I developed my own simplified two-layer method that still captures the unique beauty and layout of Spring Lake.

The result is a clean, modern 3D wooden map that represents not only my town but also my learning process.

Materials:

1. 2 pieces of medium driftwood (or similar laser-cuttable wood)
2. Wood glue (or another strong adhesive)
3. Tweezers, paintbrush, and napkins (for glue application and cleanup)
4. Optional: Paint (if you’d like to color either layer)
5. Optional: Double-sided tape or command strips (for hanging)

Tools and Software:

1. Laser cutter (I used a Glowforge, but any type will work)
2. Google Maps (or Snazzy Maps) for map images
3. Adobe Illustrator (for editing the map)
4. Inkscape (for adjusting stroke width and preparing SVG files)
5. Glowforge App (or your laser cutter’s software platform)

The first step in creating your 3D map is to find a clear image of your chosen location. I used Map Style, but you can also try Snazzy Maps, which offers different design options and color filters. After experimenting with both, I found that Map Style worked best for my project because it uses Google Maps and allows for custom styling.

1. Go to Map Style and type in your desired location.
2. Use the panel on the left-hand side to turn off all labels.
3. Scroll down to More Options → Road → All → Color, and select black as the color.
4. Adjust the zoom level until the area you want to laser cut is fully visible.
5. Take a screenshot of the map.

1. Open Adobe Illustrator and drag your screenshot onto the workspace.
2. With the image selected, go to Window → Image Trace.
3. In the Image Trace panel, adjust the settings:
4. Preset: 3 Colors
5. Paths: 75% (instead of 50%)
6. Corners: 75%
7. Noise: 5px (instead of 15px)
8. Click Expand, then Ungroup your layers.

At this point, your map should show water, roads, and land areas in different colors.

5. Select a piece of land, then go to Select → Same → Appearance and delete all land areas.

6.Repeat this process for all bodies of water, leaving only the roads visible.

You should now have a clean, simplified version of your map showing only the road network. Save your file as an SVG and close Illustrator.

Next, we’ll make sure the roads are thick enough to be successfully laser cut.

1. Open your SVG file in Inkscape.
2. Select the image and open the Stroke Style tab on the right.
3. Change the stroke width to around 5.100 mm — this helps the roads print clearly without breaking.
4. If you don’t see any changes, go to Stroke Paint and make sure your stroke color is black.
5. Optional: Ungroup elements if you want to delete or modify any specific roads or details.

Once you’re satisfied with the design, save the file as an SVG again — this will be the file you upload to your laser cutter software.

Now comes the exciting part — using the laser cutter!

1. Open the Glowforge app (or your cutter’s equivalent).
2. Click Create New → Upload File, and select your saved SVG.
3. Make sure your laser cutter is on and that you’ve placed your wood material inside.
4. Choose the correct material setting — for me, this was “medium driftwood.”
5. Select “Cut” (not “Engrave”) so the machine knows to cut through the entire material.
6. Adjust the size and placement of your design.
7. Click Print, then press the button on the Glowforge to begin cutting.

My map took about 18 minutes to complete. Once finished, carefully remove your piece.

Tip: Removing the small interior pieces (like road gaps and intersections) takes patience. Use tweezers and take your time so you don’t break the delicate stencil.

Once finished, remove the protective paper covering the wood — and admire your completed map stencil layer!

1. Open a new Glowforge document.
2. Use the shape tool to draw a rectangle (this will be your background).
3. Make sure it’s slightly larger than your map stencil so it fits comfortably.
4. For a cleaner look, I rounded the corners by 0.5 inches — optional but aesthetic.
5. Next, click the Text Tool and type your town’s name (“Spring Lake”).
6. Position your text at the bottom or top of the map — wherever you prefer.
7. Adjust the font and size to fit the layout.

Once you’re satisfied, repeat the same cutting steps as before. However, make sure that you selected the text as "engrave" and the rectangle as "cut." My background took about 8 minutes to cut and engrave. Remove the paper covering, and you now have both layers of your map ready for assembly.

1. Lay both pieces flat and align the map stencil over the background.
2. Make sure you’re happy with the placement before gluing.
3. Using a paintbrush, apply a thin, even layer of wood glue to the back of the stencil.
4. Gently press it onto the background, ensuring all edges stick evenly.
5. Wipe away any excess glue with a napkin or tweezers — be careful not to shift the stencil.
6. Allow it to dry completely before handling.

Optional: You can paint either the stencil or background before gluing if you want to add color contrast.

Once dry, your 3D wooden map is complete!

There are many ways to display your final piece:

1. Use double-sided tape for a lightweight option.
2. Try command strips for easy wall mounting.
3. Or, if you prefer a framed look, mount it inside a shadow box frame.

Whichever you choose, your map will make a stunning and personal piece of art.

This project taught me more than just how to use a laser cutter — it taught me problem-solving through trial and error. When my first attempts failed due to thin lines or improper tracing, I learned how to adjust parameters, simplify designs, and adapt to what worked.

I also gained confidence using tools like Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, and Glowforge, all of which felt intimidating at first. Most importantly, I realized how rewarding it is to combine technology and creativity to make something meaningful.

Now, every time I see this map, it reminds me not only of my hometown but also of the process of learning through experimentation and persistence.