How to supply artwork for laser cutting, CNC routing & engraving

Vector vs raster — the core concept

Everything starts here, because it decides whether we can cut your file at all.

• →Vector files are made of paths — lines and curves defined by maths. A machine can follow a path, so vector is what drives a cut, a score or a vector engrave. Formats: DXF, AI, SVG, PDF, EPS, DWG.
• →Raster files are made of pixels — a grid of dots, like a photo. There's no path to follow, so raster can only be engraved (burned as an image), never cut. Formats: PNG, JPG.
• →The practical upshot: you can't cut a JPG. If you send a logo as a PNG and you want it cut out, we have to redraw it as vector first — which is real work, and it's the work you'd be paying for. If the job is a cut, send vector.

Best formats by process

Different jobs want different files.

For laser cutting — DXF or SVG are ideal. Put your cut, score and engrave lines on separate layers or distinct colours so the machine knows what to do with each. AI, EPS and vector PDF are all fine too.

For CNC routing — DXF is the standard; the machine reads the tool paths directly. AI and EPS are also good, and DWG works. One thing to watch: an Illustrator-to-DXF export can sometimes break smooth curves into hundreds of tiny straight segments — if you can, supply clean curves. Every shape that's being cut needs to be a closed path.

For engraving — vector for vector-engrave or score; raster (PNG/JPG) for photo or image engraving.

Quick comparison:

Why fonts must be converted to outlines

This is the single most common fix we have to make.

When you use type in a design, the file references a font. If we don't have that exact font installed, the text substitutes to a different one — and your carefully-spaced sign reflows and breaks. Worse, for cutting, live text often doesn't translate to a tool path at all.

The fix is to convert text to outlines (also called "create outlines," "convert to curves," or "flatten text") before you send the file. That turns each letter into a fixed vector shape that looks the same on any machine.

Tip: keep an editable copy with live text for yourself, in case the wording changes later — outline a copy, not your master.

Cut, score & engrave layers

If your job has more than one operation — say, cut the outline and engrave some detail — tell the machine which is which by putting each operation on its own named layer or its own colour. If everything's on one layer in one colour, we have to guess or come back and ask — separating it up front keeps the job moving.

• →A common convention is red for cut, blue for engrave, green for score — but as long as they're separated and you tell us the mapping, the exact colours don't matter.
• →Use a hairline / zero-width stroke for cut lines so there's no ambiguity about where the cut runs.

Raster engraving resolution

If you're sending an image to engrave (a photo, or a detailed logo as a raster), resolution matters:

• →Aim for at least 300 DPI at the final engraved size. 300 DPI is the reliable sweet spot for most jobs.
• →Use a high-contrast image — engraving is essentially light and dark, so a flat or low-contrast photo won't read well.
• →We can only work with the detail that's there; a small, low-res image can't be sharpened into a crisp engrave by enlarging it.
• →For large signage artwork viewed from a distance, you can get away with lower resolution at full size — but when in doubt, send the highest-quality version you have.

Common file-prep mistakes

One thing you don't need to worry about: RGB vs CMYK. Colour mode is a print concern — for cutting and routing, colour only matters for mapping operations (cut vs engrave), not for the output, so don't lose time converting colour profiles for a cut job.

The things that slow a quote down:

• →Open paths — shapes that look closed but aren't. A cut needs a closed loop.
• →Double lines — two paths on top of each other cause a double cut. Common when artwork's been copied or traced.
• →Live (un-outlined) text — covered above; outline it.
• →Wrong scale — artwork not built at actual size, or units in inches when we work in mm. Always supply at 1:1 in millimetres, or tell us the intended size.
• →Stray points — leftover nodes and tiny stray marks the machine will try to cut.
• →A raster hiding in a vector wrapper — a JPG dropped into an SVG or PDF is still a JPG; it can't be cut.

Job-type quick reference

• →Cut letters or panels → vector (DXF/AI/SVG/PDF/EPS), fonts outlined, closed paths, 1:1 in mm.
• →Cut + engrave detail → vector with cut and engrave on separate layers/colours.
• →Photo or image engraving → high-res raster (PNG/JPG), 300+ DPI at size, high contrast.
• →Score/fold or V-groove lines → vector, on their own layer, mapped and labelled.

What to send us for a fast quote

To get a quote back without the back-and-forth, send the four things below — then send them through the quote form and you'll have a price back fast. For the deeper dive on getting a DXF perfect, see our DXF file preparation guide; for what else we need to quote, see what we need to quote your job. And if you're ordering acrylic or illuminated letter signs, our letter-signs guide covers the build options.

• →Your file in a vector format (for cuts) or high-res raster (for engraving).
• →The material and thickness you want — or tell us the application and we'll suggest one.
• →The finished size, and the quantity.
• →Any deadline you're working to.

FAQ

Why can't you just cut my JPG or PNG?

Because a cut follows a path, and a JPG has no path — it's pixels. We'd have to redraw it as vector first, which is the work you'd be paying for. For a cut, send vector.

What's the difference between vector and raster?

Vector is paths (maths) — it can be cut. Raster is pixels (like a photo) — it can only be engraved. Cutting needs vector.

What DXF version should I send?

A widely-compatible version like AutoCAD 2000 or R12 is safest, and the key thing is to confirm the units are in millimetres.

Do I need to convert my fonts?

Yes — convert text to outlines/curves before sending, so it doesn't reflow on our machines. Keep an editable copy for yourself.

Does RGB or CMYK matter?

Not for cutting or routing. Colour mode is a print thing. For us, colour only matters when it's mapping cut vs engrave operations.