Woodcutting is an artistic technique that involves removing material from wood using specific tools to create patterns and images. The most common tools used for woodcutting are engraving knives, burins and gouges, and there are several engraving techniques, including dry engraving, water engraving and drypoint engraving. Dry engraving uses dry cutting tools to remove the material from the wood, while water engraving uses water to lubricate the tools and facilitate the removal of the material. Drypoint engraving uses a heated tip to burn the wood and create designs. The most common woods used for engraving are beech, birch, basswood and walnut. Each of these woods has unique characteristics that make it more or less suitable for different styles of printmaking. Woodcutting can be used to create images of all kinds, from natural landscapes to animal portraits to illustrations for books. Woodcuts have also been used to create decorative designs on furniture and wooden objects. There are many professional artists who practice woodcutting and there are also many clubs and groups for amateurs. Classes are also available for those who wish to learn this technique.

Laser engraving is an engraving technique that uses a laser beam to remove material from various materials, including wood. Lasers used for engraving can be diode, YAG or fiber, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. It is a very precise process and can be used to create very detailed images and fine lettering. It is also possible to create deep engravings, using appropriate engraving parameters. The advantage of laser wood engraving is the ability to engrave hardwoods and exotic woods that can be difficult to engrave by hand. It is also possible to engrave on irregularly shaped wooden objects or small objects, and it is faster than manual engraving techniques, which allows for mass production projects. It is also cleaner and safer than manual techniques, as it does not require the use of chemicals or wood chips. There are many engraving software programs available for designing patterns and images to be engraved on wood. These software programs can be used to create vector images or raster images that can be accurately engraved on wood.