Glowforge, the Seattle-based manufacturer of self-described “3D laser printers”,  has launched the Magic Canvas, a DALL-E-like system that generates images ready for laser-cutting and engraving on a variety of surfaces, from wood to food. The feature is now available as part of the Glowforge Premium software suite.

Generating images is a simple process, with users entering an idea or keywords into the Glowforge app and selecting an art style; mirroring the process of similar text-to-image AI systems that have come to prominence recently. Users can then use the generated image with one of Glowforge’s systems to laser cut or engrave the design.

The release of the Magic Canvas adds a bit of value to the aforementioned Glowforge Premium, which is an expensive subscription at $50 per month. Whether it’s enough to justify the cost of Glowforge’s pricey hardware, however, remains to be seen – especially with more affordable options such as the OMTec Polar on the horizon.

Regardless, Magic Canvas is now available for use, with a creator contest for early adopters promising a $1,000 gift card good towards Glowforge’s “specially formulated” Proofgrade materials to the winner.

You can test the image generator for yourself on the Magic Canvas product page with some preset prompts, or get more details from Glowforge’s February update community post.

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