# Weld and Score

[YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh0EzwxdZVg)

Using “Weld and Score” on shapes can give the illusion of creating multiple layers even though you are cutting a single layer of material, and when applied to text the **score lines make each letter pop** which greatly increases the legibility of the text.

“Weld and Score” joins multiple shapes so they can be cut in a **single piece**, but score lines are added wherever the shapes overlap. Normally, when you “Weld” or “Boolean Union” two shapes, they are joined into a **single shape** but any **lines where they overlap are removed.**

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See our page on [How to “score” on a laser cutter](https://cuttle.xyz/learn/how-to-score-on-a-laser-cutter) if you are not familiar with scoring.

![](https://cuttle-content.imgix.net/learn/weld-and-score/66466f4ee1ded3478721a700162179f7b0c990df110887d495dbe2356e8c7357.jpg?auto=compress,format&q=60&fit=max&w=720&h=720&dpr=2)

## How to use Weld and Score with simple shapes

Select any group of overlapping shapes and then go to **Modify>Weld And Score**

![](https://content.cuttle.xyz/learn/weld-and-score/28d9cb8001f2b53dd4f24d2bbe7db6bf2339a8cf67a1d9a0c9fb08459ca47308.gif)

The order of the shapes matters, you can verify which shape is on top by looking at the inspector on the right hand side:

![](https://cuttle-content.imgix.net/learn/weld-and-score/eef9803f96e291cd318c5585838022b871c700e153c6df3a0ad8371256dcb239.png?auto=compress,format&q=60&fit=max&w=720&h=720&dpr=2)

And you can reorder shapes to achieve the desired result:

![](https://content.cuttle.xyz/learn/weld-and-score/9f335c78447c36c838f6e8d2503a24128812372f370a9831112b06c57e3e6ece.gif)

The score lines are blue as a default but you can change the score line color in the Weld And Score options by changing the `scoreColor` parameter.

![](https://cuttle-content.imgix.net/learn/weld-and-score/1942189e4512defeb95450343bdf91edffd0da217d1f1ff43ddffc3a2601b7f3.png?auto=compress,format&q=60&fit=max&w=720&h=720&dpr=2)

## How to use Weld and Score with engraved shapes

When your design has any engraved features you can designate a fill color that Weld and Score will ignore, and you can designate that color with the `engraveColor` parameter.

For example, with this bird head we want the beak (triangle) and the head (circle) to be joined, but we want the eye (black circle) to be engraved:

![](https://cuttle-content.imgix.net/learn/weld-and-score/a618dd95503714c900485f25f103bf74d1183bb80ed3f5c129418123b91fc46e.png?auto=compress,format&q=60&fit=max&w=720&h=720&dpr=2)

By designating the `engraveColor` parameter as black we ensure that it doesn’t turn into a score line.

![](https://cuttle-content.imgix.net/learn/weld-and-score/5075cd00e821edb728e838091c37f263d6ac1a2a9891296b015668b59d387e36.png?auto=compress,format&q=60&fit=max&w=720&h=720&dpr=2)

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Shapes that you want to engrave should have a Fill color and no Stroke.

## How To Use Weld and Score with Text

Weld and Score can greatly increase the readability of connected text.

![](https://cuttle-content.imgix.net/learn/weld-and-score/3e9349df9a2692cc18ca7cd6238921ea96ba31fd666fb358fe640f94ae595192.png?auto=compress,format&q=60&fit=max&w=720&h=720&dpr=2)

In order to make it work make sure you set `connect` to “dots and letters” and `welding` to “none” in your font options.

![](https://cuttle-content.imgix.net/learn/weld-and-score/6757dcf9aa4c4426ed92c7da2f4693061c14d0bb8fdc4b0a305bf396bbac4472.png?auto=compress,format&q=60&fit=max&w=720&h=720&dpr=2)