Laser engraving is a precise, contactless method that uses a focused beam of light to etch your design directly into the surface of a product. Instead of adding ink or colour, the laser removes a thin layer of material, leaving behind a sharp, high-contrast mark. It’s a permanent finish that won’t peel, fade, or wear over time—making it ideal for premium branded merchandise and corporate gifts.
Laser engraving works best on solid, non-porous materials like metal, coated wood, glass, leather, and some plastics. It’s perfect for clean, simple logos, icons, and text-based designs.
Tips for Designing for Laser Engraving
Use vector artwork only
Laser engraving requires crisp, scalable vector graphics. Avoid raster images (JPEGs or PNGs), as they can lose clarity when resized and don’t translate well into engravings.
Stick to single-colour designs
Since laser engraving isn’t a print method, colour doesn’t apply in the traditional sense. Think in terms of depth and contrast, not ink. Your design will be engraved in one tone—often a shade of grey, silver, or a darker version of the surface material.
Avoid fine lines and intricate details
While lasers are very precise, overly complex designs with tiny elements or delicate features can lose definition, especially on small items. Use bold, well-defined shapes and keep linework simple for the best results.
Use a minimum font size of 8pt
Tiny text can become unreadable depending on the surface and material. Stick to fonts that are clear and legible at 8pt or larger to ensure your message comes through cleanly.
Convert all strokes and text to outlines
To avoid issues during processing, convert all strokes to shapes and outline your fonts. This locks in the appearance of your design and ensures it engraves as intended, without missing elements due to unembedded fonts or editable paths.
Avoid overlapping paths
Make sure your design doesn’t contain stacked or layered elements. Combine overlapping paths into a single, continuous shape to avoid duplicate engraving passes or inconsistent finishes.