File Formats for Design Downloads

We include a variety of file types in our design downloads to accommodate a variety of lasers, design software, and skill level. These are the files we include in the Firemen Logo Design: 

  • Firemen Kit Logo SVGs – folder that contains 6 SVG files (one for each piece of material contained in the Kit).  All the object / shapes for engraving and cutting in these files are in VECTOR format.
  • Firemen Kit Logo SVGs – Bitmap – folder that contains 6 SVG files (one for each piece of material contained in the Kit).  The objects / shapes for engraving are in BITMAP format and the objects / shapes for cutting are in VECTOR format. 
  • Firemen Logo – Bitmap (CorelDraw) – the raw design file that contains BITMAPS for the engraving objects and VECTORS for the cutting objects.
  • Firemen Logo (CorelDraw) – the raw design file that contains VECTORS for both the engraving and cutting objects.
  • Firemen Logo (PNG) – a graphic representation of what the final product should look like.
  • Firemen Logo (PowerPoint) – the raw design file that contains VECTORS for both the engraving and cutting objects.

SVG Files

Some laser manufacturers have their own graphics software that must be used with their laser (i.e., GlowForge). Designs can be created outside of their software and then imported when ready to print. The most common format for importing is SVG. 

Vector vs. Bitmap Formats – Vectors are a series of lines and instructions, and Bitmaps are a series of dots. Vectors are cleaner and create straighter lines where Bitmaps can appear as stair steps and a series of random dot patterns.  It’s always best to use Vectors where possible, however, some lasers do not treat vectors very well especially designs having objects that contain 2 or more shades of the same color (gradation). 

Glowforge appears to have difficulties with shading and gradation in Vectors, so it is our recommendation to use the Bitmap version of our SVG files. See our Glowforge tutorial for more detail.

CorelDRAW Files (Vector and Bitmap Formats)

Most direct print lasers (lasers that use a print driver) like Thunder, Epilog, Boss, Universal, etc. can engrave and cut directly from a design software package using Vector or Bitmap objects. For users of these lasers, we recommend using the Corel Draw file that contains all Vector objects since vectors create sharper images. The Corel Draw format can also be imported into Adobe Illustrator and other popular design software.

If you have a laser that is direct print but doesn’t handle vector engraving objects, then we would recommend using the Corel Draw file that contains bitmaps for engraving and vectors for cutting. 

PowerPoint File

If you are using a Direct Print laser and don’t have access to or experience with a graphics software package, then you can still make an Etch Glow Display Light using the PowerPoint file. See our PowerPoint tutorial for more details.

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