Good results start with good artwork. The good news is that you rarely need to be a designer: you just need to send the right type of file, or tell us what you have.
Vector vs raster
- Vector files (SVG, PDF, AI, DXF, EPS) describe shapes with lines and curves. They stay perfectly sharp at any size and are what lasers and vinyl cutters follow.
- Raster files (JPG, PNG, GIF, HEIC) are made of pixels. They're fine for photo engraving, but they blur when enlarged and need to be traced to be cut.
Which should I send?
| Job | Best file | Also OK |
|---|---|---|
| Logo engraving | SVG, PDF or AI | High-resolution PNG |
| Laser cutting a shape | SVG or DXF | |
| Vinyl decal | SVG, PDF or AI | Clean PNG we can trace |
| Photo engraving | High-res JPG or PNG | Original camera photo |
Common mistakes
- Tiny, low-resolution logos copied from a website. If it's under about 1000 pixels wide, ask your designer for the original.
- Fonts that aren't installed. Send text "converted to outlines" (or just tell us the font name). Otherwise another font may be substituted.
- Very thin lines. Lines under about 0.3 mm may not engrave, and details that thin in vinyl won't peel cleanly.
- Photos with busy backgrounds. A plain background gives a much cleaner engraving.
- Screenshots. They're small and soft. Send the original file instead.
Tips for engraving photos
Close-up, well-lit photos with good contrast work best, such as a pet or a portrait. We'll adjust the contrast and convert the image for the material, and send a proof before engraving.
Don't have artwork?
No problem. Send us a photo, a sketch, or just describe what you want. Simple logo clean-ups can often be done for a small fee, and design work is quoted before we start. See our design page.
Free tools
If you'd like to make your own, Inkscape is a free vector editor that exports SVG. Search for it, download it from the official website, and send the SVG when you're done.
