How to Make Coin Borders in LightBurn with Circular Array

Start with the coin boundary

For the example in the video, I start by drawing a circle and setting it to 40 mm × 40 mm, which matches the size of many of the coin blanks I work with.

That outer circle represents the physical edge of the coin. From there, the first job is to create enough margin that the decorative border does not run right into the edge.

Create the border area with offsets

Select the coin circle and open Tools → Offset Shapes. For the coins I use, a 1.5 mm inward offset lines up well with the usable face of the coin.

That new circle becomes the outer edge of the decorative border.

Next, select that circle and create another inward offset to define the overall border width. In the video, I use 2.5 mm as a starting point.

Method 1: create a repeating border from a basic shape

The simplest version starts with any basic LightBurn shape. In the video, I draw a thin rectangle and then round the corners completely so it becomes a small pill-shaped element.

To round the rectangle, select it, hold Ctrl, and drag the corner control until the ends are fully rounded.

Place that shape between the two border circles. You can size it precisely if you want, but for small coin artwork I often leave a slight buffer on both sides and position it visually.

Use Circular Array to repeat the shape around the coin

Select the small border shape, then hold Shift and select the circle that will act as the center reference. Go to Arrange → Circular Array.

For a full circular border:

1. Set the start angle to 0°.
2. Set the end angle to 360°.
3. Adjust the number of copies until the spacing looks right.

A lower copy count leaves more space between each repeat. A higher count packs the pattern more tightly. In the example, I use about 200 copies for the small pill-shaped border.

Method 2: use font punctuation as a source of decorative shapes

This is the shortcut I use when I want a more interesting pattern without drawing one from scratch or leaving LightBurn.

Create a text object and type a selection of punctuation characters—apostrophes, tildes, exclamation points, carets, asterisks, or anything else that catches your eye.

Then start changing fonts.

Different typefaces often contain surprisingly useful punctuation designs. An asterisk may become a decorative starburst. A tilde may turn into a wave. An apostrophe may become a tapered geometric shape that works perfectly as a repeating border.

Convert the character to a vector path

When you find a punctuation shape you want to use, right-click it and choose Convert to Path.

That removes its dependency on the font and turns it into an ordinary vector object. You can now scale, rotate, edit, and array it like any other shape.

Create a zipper-style border

One of my favorite examples uses the apostrophe from Arial. It has a simple tapered rectangular shape that creates what I think of as a zipper-tooth border.

After converting the apostrophe to a path, move it into the border area, size it to fit, then select it along with your reference circle and open Arrange → Circular Array.

If the repeated shapes overlap too much, lower the copy count. In the video, around 100 copies worked well for this larger zipper-style element.

Stack multiple borders for more detail

You do not have to stop at one repeating ring.

The finished coin shown in the video uses several border treatments stacked together:

1. A larger zipper-tooth pattern on the outside.
2. A smaller repeating circle pattern inside it.
3. An additional tiny repeating shape that creates a saw-tooth texture.

Each border is built from the same basic idea: define the ring with offsets, place one repeatable shape inside that ring, then use Circular Array to distribute it around the coin.

Why this technique works so well for coin design

Coin artwork benefits from repetition and symmetry. Circular Array handles both automatically, so even an extremely simple shape can look intentional once it is distributed evenly around the perimeter.

It is also fast to iterate. You can change the source shape, copy count, border thickness, or spacing and immediately get a completely different look without redrawing the entire border.

LightBurn tools used in this tutorial

The workflow mainly relies on a handful of built-in LightBurn tools:

1. Ellipse / shape tools for the coin and basic border elements.
2. Offset Shapes for defining margins and border width.
3. Text for exploring font punctuation.
4. Convert to Path for turning characters into editable vectors.
5. Circular Array for repeating a motif evenly around the coin.

If these tools are still new to you, Fiber Laser Ignite is my free LightBurn-focused fiber laser course. It covers the fundamentals and then puts them into practice with nine guided engraving projects.

LIGHTBURN

Try LightBurn free for 30 days

Everything in this border workflow is done directly in LightBurn. If you are new to the software, you can start with the free trial and follow along with the course.

TRY LIGHTBURN FREE ↗

Affiliate link: I may earn a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

NEED A FIBER LASER?

See the fiber laser I use

You can create the artwork on any compatible LightBurn setup, but if you are shopping for a fiber laser, my buying guide covers the 60W JPT MOPA OMG Laser I use for coin engraving.

SEE MY FIBER LASER SETUP →

The buying guide includes my OMG affiliate link and the current $100 discount code OMGJL.