Guide
Laser Engraving: Materials, File Types and Design Tips
Laser engraving burns or vaporizes a design into the surface of a material, and the same machine can cut thin sheets. It is excellent for signs, gifts, coasters, nameplates, tags and branded items. Here is what works and how to prepare your artwork.
Materials that work well
- Wood and plywood: warm, dark engraving; light woods give the best contrast
- Acrylic: frosted engraving, or clean cut-out shapes
- Leather: dark burned designs for wallets, patches and tags
- Cardboard and paper: fine detail for packaging and cards
Materials that should never be lasered
PVC and vinyl-coated materials release chlorine gas when heated and damage the machine and the air. Other plastics can melt or burn unpredictably. If you are unsure whether a material is safe, ask before sending it, or choose one of the materials listed in the quote tool.
Vector or raster artwork
Vector files (SVG, DXF) describe shapes as lines and are best for cutting and for crisp line engraving. Raster images (PNG, JPG) are engraved as a pattern of dots, which suits photographs and shaded artwork. Use a high-resolution image with good contrast; a low-resolution picture will look soft however it is engraved.
Design tips
- Keep lines at least about 0.1 mm wide: hairline strokes can burn away or disappear
- Convert text to outlines before exporting so fonts do not change
- Leave a margin from the edge for items that will be cut out
- Black areas engrave and white areas are left alone in most raster workflows
Size and quantity
Enter the width and height of the design in the quote tool. Quantities of one to many are fine: setup cost is spread across the order, so repeat items get cheaper per piece. If your artwork needs cleaning up, choose that option and we will prepare it for the laser.