The art of kirie goshuin is increasingly spreading throughout the world. It has become a genre of art in its own right, with new kirie goshuin designs being showcased daily on platforms such as Instagram and other social media networks.

There has been an increase in intricate kirie goshuin designs, reminiscent of mandalas, making it challenging to mass-produce by hand due to their delicate nature.

In such circumstances, it’s natural for people to feel the desire to create their own kirie goshuin at their own temples or shrines. However, many might feel at a loss as to how to proceed.

Our company, with over 15 years of experience in laser paper processing, is a well-established business. Over the years and through various kirie goshuin projects, we have developed our own production process. Today, we would like to introduce that process to you.

Without data, the laser cannot operate

First and foremost, laser cutting refers to a processing technique where a laser beam emitted from an oscillator is focused by a lens to rapidly increase the temperature at the focal point, thereby performing the processing.

It’s easy to understand laser cutting by recalling how paper burns when sunlight is focused through a magnifying glass. Unlike the sun, we can control the output, allowing for various processes through adjustments in power and exposure time.

Most laser cutting devices come with proprietary software from each manufacturer, allowing the machine to operate by commanding cut lines (coordinates) and various parameters within the software. Therefore, to conduct laser processing, one must first prepare processing data.

The format of the data to be prepared

Most proprietary software has compatibility with CAD or Adobe Illustrator file formats (referred to as AI data), allowing users to enhance convenience by converting these data into dedicated laser cutting data.

Our laser equipment at the company can also convert AI data into processing data, so for laser processing, we generally request submissions in AI file format. Therefore, if you can prepare AI data on your own, you can quickly begin processing by converting it into processing data.

I can’t use Illustrator! What on earth should I do?

However, AI data requires specialized knowledge, so it’s not something that can be easily prepared unless one is regularly involved in printing or is a designer. Especially in the case of kirie goshuin, where the clients are often temples or shrines, it’s likely that many may not be able to prepare such data.

“Even if one could create AI data, in the case of kirie goshuin, where a single sheet of paper is often processed to create the artwork, the difficulty level is high because, true to its name ‘kirie’ (cut-out art), the data itself needs to be carefully crafted to ensure that all elements remain connected and do not fall apart during cutting.

We accept design and data creation services at our company

Throughout our history, we have had the pleasure of working with several kirie artists. Through this network, we are able to create kirie goshuin data even from photographs or illustrations.

Due to its high level of difficulty, it may take some time, but we can create highly reproducible data. In most cases, kirie goshuin data is created from photographs or illustrations.

We will gather the Buddha statue photographs, shrine images, illustrations, and any other materials you wish to express, and proceed with the design and data creation while listening to your specific requests as much as possible. As design revisions incur additional time and cost, it would be greatly appreciated if your initial requests are as specific as possible.

Next, we will provide design proposals in PDF or similar format for your review, and we will continue to make revisions until we receive final approval. Once the design is finalized, we will proceed with actual laser cutting, making adjustments to any areas unsuitable for processing by hand, and finalize the complete data.

Once the data is ready, we will proceed with sample cutting, followed by a processing quotation

Once the data is completed, we will conduct a sample cutting of one piece and provide a processing quotation based on the required quantity and specifications. After receiving your order, we will proceed with processing and delivery.

In the case of three-dimensional goshuin, designing a pop-up structure is necessary, so there may be some modifications or additional time required even after the completion of part design. Depending on the desired structure, there may be an additional charge for structural design.

It usually takes about 2-3 weeks from receiving your request to reaching the processing quotation phase. Ultimately, the total duration includes this period plus the processing time, so if you have a specific delivery deadline in mind, please consult with us as soon as possible.

Finally, to summarize

After grasping that kirie goshuin production involves laser processing, one might tend to lean towards asking around in places found on the internet. However, each laser system has its own characteristics and points to consider, and there are challenges regarding what to do with the data. Therefore, it’s not as simple as it may seem.

Our strengths lie in our ability to handle intricate processing and our capability to accommodate three-dimensional goshuin designs. We offer end-to-end support from design to printing, which is surprisingly rare in the industry. Each of these tasks is challenging without experience, and they represent the essence of our expertise as a paper processing company.

We can shape ideas such as ‘I want to create something like this’ or ‘Can we do something like that?’ into reality, so please do not hesitate to contact us with your inquiries.