Laser cutting

We’ve tried to make laser cutting as affordable and accessible as possible. Following our guide makes it quick and easy to get a quotation from us.

Prepping your designs

1. Design Specs

File types

Ideally, we require a vector file in order to process orders. The formats that we accept are .ai (Adobe Illustrator), .dxf, .svg and .pdf. If you are unable to provide the specified files, we are able to work with almost any image.

Depending on the format and quality of the image, the setup fee will vary.

Sizing

Our laser cutter has a maximum workable area of 610mm x 457mm. The maximum sheet size we provide is 600mm x 400mm. You can find the standard sheet sizes for each material on our Materials page. If you require larger sheets please contact us and we might be able to help.

Colour mode

Please send your design files in RGB colour mode.

2. Materials

Materials Range

We have a wide range of materials to choose from on our Materials page. If you can't see what you are looking for, please let us know and we will try and get hold of it for you.

USING YOUR OWN MATERIALS

If you would like to use your own materials, please first check that we don’t stock it here. If we don’t stock it, then there is a £1.00 processing fee for each sheet, no matter the size of the sheet. We will check over the material when it comes in, and apply a new protective layer to both sides (as normally the protector the material is covered in (if any) isn’t suitable for laser cutting.

3. Cut Types

Cut options

There are three different cuts you can perform on our laser; 'Vector Cut', 'Vector Engrave' and 'Raster Engrave'. To show us what type of cut you require, please refer to the image examples at the bottom of this section.

Vector cut

This is a cut that goes all the way through the material. You must use the following settings in your design file:

• Stroke / line weight = 0.01mm
• Colour: RGB red (255, 0, 0)

Vector engrave

This is a cut line that just marks the surface of the material and does not go all the way through. We have a standard optimised depth that marks the surface. You must use the following settings in your design file:

• Stroke / line weight = 0.01mm
• Colour: RGB blue (0, 0, 255)

Raster engrave

This is when you require a filled area on the surface of the material to be engraved. We have a standard optimised depth that marks the surface (0.03mm), but if you require a specific depth, please let us know. You must use the following settings in your design file:

• Stroke / line weight = 0.25mm
• Engraved areas should have black fill
• Colour: RGB black (0, 0, 0)


Below, is an example of these three types of cut, and what your files should look like:

5. Double Sided Tape

Double Sided Tape

Double sided tape is for those of you that hate gluing! This is an industrial strength tape that we can apply to your jewellery backing plates, or any other application you think this would be useful for.

The adhesive covering will be applied across the whole shape and cutting sheet, so bear this in mind if you have holes cut in a top layer that would be attached.

This tape is good for colours where glue shows through easily, we’re not saying it’s completely invisible but it can make gluing frost a lot easier without any noticeable markings.

As the tape is applied before the sheet is cut, and is cut to the exact shape of your design, there is a little bit of clean up (caused by a sticky residue) needed around the edges once it is glued. However this is minimal and easy to do.

6. Saving Your Files

File layout

You must make sure you leave at least 2mm between each individual object. It is also important that your cutting sheet file is 600mm x 400mm (or for mirror, glitter, marble, or wood veneer finishes, 600mm x 300mm) as this is the maximum sheet size we provide.

Below is an example of a sheet layout file.

Please layout all the items you would like cut in each colour as shown. This is one sheet. If you need six necklaces you must layout six necklaces on a sheet - even just for a quote.

Duplicate lines

It is important that you don’t have duplicate lines hidden close together or on top of each other. The laser cutter will include all lines on the file in the cutting process. If you do not remove these lines they can cause burn marks and will mean the cutting takes longer, which will cost you more.

Clipping Masks

Make sure you have removed all ‘Clipping masks’, as the laser cutter does not register images that use this tool.

Saving your files

Your files should be saved using the following name layout to enable quick and efficient processing:

"name_materialtype_thickness”

For example:

jacqueskeogh_blackacrylic_3mm

Saving FILES FOR PREMIUM ENGRAVING

Name any files: your name_material_thickness_PremiumEngrave

e.g. "JacquesKeogh_blackacrylic_3mm_PremiumEngrave”  

All pieces on a sheet must be premium engraved (at this time we cannot separate materials/colours - if you require black acrylic in your order, and some of it requires premium engraving. All of this sheet will be charged as premium engraving).

This will be charged per sheet and will be marked on the quote sheet.

Saving FILES FOR Double sided tape

Name any files: your name_material_thickness_DoubleSidedTape

E.g. "JacquesKeogh_blackacrylic_3mm_DoubleSidedTape”

All pieces on a sheet must be have double sided tape on them, if you require the same colour material without double sided tape, please create a separate cutting sheet. This will be charged by surface area and will be marked on the quote sheet.

4. Premium Engraving

Premium Engraving

This is a service we have introduced to help with ‘ink rubbing’, or using paint in the engraved areas of your laser cut pieces.

All acrylic comes with a plastic protector layer which cannot be engraved through, as it will create ‘hazing’ or scorch marks.

We remove this protective layer and replace it with tape, which can be engraved through. This creates areas which are masked off, leaving the exposed engraved area ready to paint. Speeding up the process of painting your acrylic pieces and reducing the amount of material that needs to be cleaned up afterwards.

If you would like Premium Engraving, please let us know so we can factor it into your quotation.

Final Checklist

    1. Make sure your file is set to RGB colour mode.

    2. Ensure you have selected the correct colours and line weights for your file

    3. Ensure that the file has no hidden / double lines.

    4. Each cutting sheet should be 600mm x 400mm (600mm x 300m for mirror, glitter, marble and wood veneer finishes).

    5. When you save your files, the file name should include the following information: (name_materialtype_thickness). For example: jacqueskeogh_blackacrylic_3mm

    6. Individual objects should have at least a 2mm gap between them.

    7. All text should be converted to vectors / paths

    8. Remove all Clipping Masks.

Quotations

We offer a free quotation service. Please email us your files and all the relevant information we require (see below) and we'll return your email within one working day.

If you have any questions about file setup, or any aspect of the laser cutting process, please feel free to get in touch. Oh, and check out our FAQs.

For us to give you a quotation please make sure you include the following information in your email to: hello@yeahlaser.com

  • Name:

  • Business name (if applicable):

  • Contact number:

  • Delivery address:

  • Turn around time (please bear in mind that delivery in less than the current lead time will be charged as a rush job).

If you have ordered with us previously, please just provide files and a brief explanation of what is required.