File Requirements

Artwork specs for engraving
and UV printing.

Submit the right file and your order flows straight to production. Submit the wrong one and we come back to you with a question — which delays your proof by a day.

Upload your artwork →Need a vector conversion?

Accepted file formats

Vector formats (SVG, AI, EPS, PDF) are preferred for all engraving work and anything with type. Raster formats (PNG, JPG) are accepted for UV printing at 300 DPI or higher.

Format	Status	Process	Notes
SVG	Preferred	Engraving + UV	Scalable vector — works at any size with no quality loss. Best for logos, wordmarks, and line art.
AI (Adobe Illustrator)	Preferred	Engraving + UV	Native vector. Fonts must be outlined before saving. Include any embedded images.
EPS	Accepted	Engraving + UV	Vector format supported in all our toolchains. Outline fonts; avoid EPS files saved from raster sources.
PDF (vector)	Accepted	Engraving + UV	Vector PDFs from Illustrator or Canva Pro are fine. PDFs from Word/Google Docs are raster — use PNG instead.
PNG	Accepted	UV printing	300 DPI minimum at final print size. Transparent background required for logos and icons. Not recommended for engraving.
JPG / JPEG	Accepted (with caveats)	UV printing only	300 DPI minimum. JPG compression creates artifacts around sharp edges — use PNG for logos. No transparency support.
WEBP, GIF, HEIC, BMP	Not accepted	—	Convert to PNG or SVG before uploading. Our upload form will reject these formats.

Color space

The right color mode depends on what you're printing and how accurate you need the color match to be.

RGB— For most jobs

RGB is the standard for digital proofs and UV printing on our equipment. All color display proofs are rendered in RGB. If you submit a CMYK file, we convert to RGB before proofing — colors may shift slightly.

CMYK— For color-critical UV print

If you need accurate Pantone matching or are supplying a press-ready PDF, send us the CMYK values and we'll match as closely as our UV ink set allows. Tell us in the order notes.

Grayscale / single-channel— For laser engraving

Laser engraving is inherently single-channel (engraved or not). We convert any color artwork to grayscale before processing. Submit in any color mode — we handle the conversion.

Spot color / Pantone— Request in order notes

We can match common Pantone colors for UV printing on a best-effort basis using our ink mix. Submit the Pantone number in the order notes and we'll confirm match accuracy before production.

Resolution & size minimums

Raster files (PNG, JPG)

300 DPI at final print size — minimum.

72 DPI screen exports will print blurry. If you're unsure of the DPI, send us the file and we'll check before proofing.

Logos for engraving

Vector preferred; raster accepted at 600 DPI+.

Fine engraving detail (thin lines, small text) benefits from the higher resolution. 300 DPI works for bold logos; anything with hairlines needs 600+.

Vector files (SVG, AI, EPS)

No minimum — vectors are resolution-independent.

A properly exported SVG or AI file scales to any size with zero quality loss. This is why we prefer vector for all engraving work.

Minimum engraving line weight

0.5 pt stroke minimum for reliable engraving.

Hairlines below 0.5 pt may engrave inconsistently on curved surfaces (tumblers, keychains). We flag these in the proof.

Common mistakes (and how to fix them)

These are the six issues we see most often. Fixing them before you upload eliminates 95% of proof-round delays.

Low-resolution raster at print size

Uploading a 72 DPI PNG from a website or a small JPG thumbnail. At print size it blurs or pixelates.

Fix: Request a high-res file from your designer, or let us convert your logo to vector — one-time fee, then it's yours forever.

Fonts not outlined in vector files

AI or EPS with live text will render incorrectly if we don't have the exact font installed.

Fix: In Illustrator: Select All → Type → Create Outlines. Save. The text becomes paths — no font dependency.

Transparent background with anti-aliasing fringe

PNG logos exported on a white background, then made "transparent" — leaves a visible white or grey halo around the edges.

Fix: Export your logo from the original source file with a true transparent background. Or send us the source file and we fix it.

Embedded raster inside a vector file

Placing a low-res PNG inside an AI or EPS file and saving it as "vector." The outer container is vector; the image inside is still raster.

Fix: Use only native vector paths for logos. For photos or texture fills, provide the raster file separately at 300 DPI.

Color mode mismatch

RGB files submitted for UV print jobs that need accurate Pantone matching — the colors can shift on-press.

Fix: For laser engraving: any color mode works (we convert to single-channel grayscale). For UV: RGB is fine for proofing; tell us if you need CMYK/Pantone accuracy and we'll handle the conversion.

File sent in an unsupported format (Word, PowerPoint, Google Docs)

Logos pasted into Word or exported from Google Slides come out as low-DPI JPG or PNG screenshots.

Fix: Go back to the source file (ask your designer or your marketing team for the original .ai, .svg, or .eps).

Still not sure about your file?

Upload it in the design center and we review it as part of the proof process. If there's a problem, we catch it before production and tell you exactly what to fix — or offer to fix it for a one-time vector conversion fee.

Upload & get a proof →Vector conversion service

Questions about a specific file? Email hello@thelasercraft.co with your file attached. We review and respond within 1 business day.