Zing Archives

Creating City Maps (CorelDRAW)

Learn how to source and prepare artwork for cutting and engraving city maps using CorelDRAW.

City Map Image Capture Start off by visiting snazzymaps.com to create a custom city map for laser engraving or cutting. Creating an account is not required, but if you are interested in creating different city maps for customers or friends, signing up will give you the ability to save map (...)

04/01/2025

Creating City Maps (Illustrator)

Learn how to source and prepare artwork for cutting and engraving city maps using Adobe Illustrator.

City Map Image Capture Start off by visiting snazzymaps.com to create a custom city map for laser engraving or cutting. Creating an account is not required, but if you are interested in creating different maps for customers or friends, signing up will give you the ability to save map locations (...)

04/01/2025

Using PhotoLaser Plus

Learn how to quickly prepare photos for engraving using PhotoLaser Plus.

Prepare Photo Begin by importing a photograph into PhotoLaser Plus. Select the ‘Import’ option from the ‘File’ menu. Then select a photo. Now click on the work area to place the photo. Next, resize the image to match the engraving piece. In this example, our engraving piece is 6” x (...)

04/01/2025

Use a Jig to Pre-Engrave an Item for Customization Later

Learn how to use a jig to save time on your most popular laser engraving projects.

Setup the Artwork Here we are creating a jig to pre-engrave four leather notebooks. We’ll add customized names to each one later. The red lines are the outlines of the notebooks we’ll cut out in a jig. We’ll cut an arrow at the top left corner so (...)

03/31/2025

Using Color Mapping in the Epilog Software Suite

Save time by setting up multiple passes with different settings.

It’s easy to color map with the Epilog Dashboard. Prepare the Artwork for Color Mapping For this file, we want to score the red numbers and cut out the blue outlines. Once the artwork is ready, Print the file to the laser. Everything has come over in a single process (...)

11/11/2025

Using Margins to Preview Your Engraving

Use this technique to quickly fine tune your engraving.

For a helpful tip, we’ll show how to use margins in the Epilog Dashboard to preview the engraving to make sure our photo quality is ideal. Prepare the Artwork We’ll be engraving this photo on a wood plaque. First, we’ll process the photo in PhotoLaser Plus. (...)

03/31/2025

Center-Center vs Custom Center Engraving

Learn about preset positioning to center your artwork along with techniques to center offset graphics.

Using Center-Center There are many ways to use Center Engraving on the Epilog Laser Dashboard. Let’s take a logo we want to engrave at the center of a coaster. In the Epilog Dashboard, choose the Advanced Tab. Next to Centering Point you’ll see a list of all (...)

03/31/2025

Use Print Merge to Customize Multiple Items

Learn to use the print merge feature in CorelDRAW to easily distinguish and engrave multiple items at once.

Import Data Here we have a series of name badges to engrave and cut on the laser using print merge. First we’ll need to pull in the list of names. Select File > Print Merge > Create/Load Print Merge Click Import File and navigate to your .csv, .rtf, or (...)

03/31/2025

Precisely place artwork using the IRIS Camera

Learn to fit a graphic to a knife blade shape in minutes.

Artwork Setup Here we have a graphic we want to engrave on a blade of knife, which we can do by using the camera. In the Laser Dashboard, using the camera, we can see the knife blade placed in the laser. Start by clicking the Copy Background Image (...)

04/30/2025

Creating a 3D Sphere Design for Laser Engraving

Create a spherical look using Adobe Illustrator’s 3D Revolve feature.

Setup the Artwork Here we have a snowflake design that we’ve replicated in an offset grid pattern to be transformed into a 3D sphere design. Select the design and drag it into the Symbols tab. Name the design And set the export type to graphic. Delete the (...)

04/01/2025

Removing Adhesive Backing from Acrylic

Quick tip on how to simply remove adhesive backing.

Spray Backing Spray the adhesive backing with Pure Citrus air freshener and let it sit for 30 seconds. Peel Backing Now the adhesive backing should be quick and easy to remove from your acrylic. Wipe Clean Wipe off the remaining residue and you’re ready to engrave or (...)

03/31/2025

Cleaning Your Optics

Cleaning your lens and mirrors is an essential part of routine maintenance.

Remove Side Panel To begin the optics cleaning procedure, shut off the laser and remove the power cord from the machine. Remove the left side panel by removing the three screws on the side of the machine. Remove the screw on the back of the machine. Remove the left side (...)

12/31/2025

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Creating City Maps (CorelDRAW)

Creating City Maps (Illustrator)

Using PhotoLaser Plus

Use a Jig to Pre-Engrave an Item for Customization Later

Using Color Mapping in the Epilog Software Suite

Using Margins to Preview Your Engraving

Center-Center vs Custom Center Engraving

Use Print Merge to Customize Multiple Items

Precisely place artwork using the IRIS Camera

Creating a 3D Sphere Design for Laser Engraving

Removing Adhesive Backing from Acrylic

Cleaning Your Optics