File Preparation

Etching Vs. Cutting

• Etching is the process of removing a small layer of material from the top of the workpiece.

• Cutting goes all the way through the materialCutting goes all the way through the material

Vector Vs. Raster

• Vector artwork is a collection of straight or curved lines. Illustrator files and DXF files are examples of vectors. The laser software will follow a vector line and cut or etch, depending on power settings.

• Bitmap or raster artwork is a collection of individual points. JPG, GIF, PNG and Photoshop are examples of bitmap files. The laser software will interpret raster lines as instructions to etch, not cut. The laser will hit each dot or pixel with a short blast of light to burn an image into the material.

Selecting Vectors In Design Software

Adobe Illustrator

• In Illustrator, lines with a 0.001" stroke will be a vector. Adobe Illustrator will be a vector.

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CorelDRAW

• In CorelDRAW, lines with a width of hairline will be vectore. All other lines will be interpreted as a raster.