

Luckily somebody awesome has developed an extension to the free software Inkscape, where you can convert fonts to single lines. When line engraving is applied to most fonts, the resulting outcome is that the laser draws the outline of paths, essentially doubling up on the amount of work needed to draw the letters. Engraving Problem #2: Line Engraving Results In Outlines This will result in a different look to area engraving as the inside of letters will not be filled. With line engraving the laser follows the outlines of the paths drawing out the letters. Ponoko’s pick for small text: Arial black (using ALL CAPS)Īlternative option: Switch to vector line engraving instead of area engraving to prevent skipping. Styles of fonts with the least variation in thicknesses will engrave most successfully at smallest sizes. If text is made too small, any font will have problems with area engraving. Sections under 0.3mm will almost certainly be problematic and making sure features are larger than this is advisable for reliable results. When moving at this speed very small features can be skipped and end up looking patchy. Typically used for: Decorative printed items – styles are often elaborate and visually appealingĮxample: Stencil Engraving Problem #1: Area Engraving Skips On Small TextĪrea (aka raster) engraving works like an old school printer, where the head of the laser moves back and forth very quickly removing tiny lines of material one after another, slowly working it’s way down the design. Typically used for: On screen text – clean shapes make reading on screens easier Looks like – Small lines not added to the end of letters Typically used for: Printed text – lines are said to create flow for readingĮxample font: Times New Roman Sans Serif Fonts Looks like – Small lines added to the end of letters Here are the most common categories of fonts.

This eliminates the connection to the installed font file on your computer and ensures intended styles, size and placement are retained. This is why when submitting files to Ponoko for laser cutting, you need to explode fonts into plain vector paths. While the vast selection of fonts that exist make for interesting variations in styles, if you share a file that contains a font that is not installed to another person’s device, you’ll find the formatting won’t present as you intended.

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Computers usually come with a number of fonts preinstalled, but there are also many font designs that you can download for free or for a cost online. These files define the exact styles that are presented. Put simply, computer fonts are files that are saved on your device and are referenced when you type and read text. In this article we’ll run through some common problems that can occur when laser cutting text and provide some suggestions for selecting the right fonts for your needs. There are a huge number of fonts available online, but not all fonts are well suited for high quality laser cutting and engraving. Formatting Text For High Quality Outcomes
