---
articleType: Reference
categories:
- Products
last_updated: '2026-10-21'
primaryTopic: laser-etching-best-practices
relatedModules:
- name: catalog-product-all
  route: /admin/products/all
- name: products-list
  route: /admin/dashboard/products/all/
- name: catalog-product-discover
  route: /admin/products
shortDescription: Prepare solid black artwork for laser-etched (laser engraved) products and find the Engraving controls and artwork area in the product designer.
tags:
- laser-etching
- laser-engraving
- engraved-tumbler
- artwork-requirements
- product-designer
- design-guidelines
- drinkware
- file-specs
tasks:
  - Prepare artwork for laser etching
  - Design a laser engraved tumbler
  - Find products that use laser etching
  - Reopen the laser artwork requirements
  - Find the Detail level and Invert artwork colors controls
  - Check the laser etching area for a product
terms:
  - laser etching
  - laser engraving
  - laser etched
  - engraved tumbler
  - etched tumbler
  - custom engraved drinkware
  - engrave logo on tumbler
  - laser engraving artwork
  - laser engraving file requirements
  - black artwork for engraving
  - engraving detail level
  - invert artwork colors
labels:
  - laser-etching
  - design-guidelines
  - best-practices
contextString: Applies to creators designing on-demand catalog products whose method is Laser etched.
breadcrumbPath: "Create and sell products > Best Practices > Laser etching best practices"
title: Laser etching best practices
path: create-and-sell-products/best-practices/laser-etching-best-practices
---

# Laser etching best practices

Laser etching, also called laser engraving, burns your design into a product's surface. The design takes on the tone of the material instead of printed color, so use solid black, bold artwork and check each product's own artwork area before you design.

## Laser etching artwork requirements

Laser etching artwork must be solid black with bold, simple shapes:

- **One color.** Design in solid black only. Laser etching does NOT reproduce printed colors.
- **Small details.** Keep lines thick and details bold. Very thin lines can engrave faint or broken, and small details close together can blur. Simplify or separate small elements.
- **Gradients and shadows.** Avoid gradients, drop shadows and glows. Laser marking is binary, so soft transitions turn into patches. Use solid shapes instead.
- **File type.** Upload a JPG or PNG. Use PNG if your artwork has transparency.
- **Color profile.** Use sRGB.

Laser etching has no fixed pixel minimum that applies to every product. Use the size and resolution the product designer shows for the product you pick.

## Products that use laser etching

Laser-etched products in the catalog currently include:

- Insulated Tumbler with a Straw
- Pinnacle Vacuum Insulated Travel Tumbler With Straw

Not every drinkware product uses laser etching. Before you design, check that the product's method is **Laser etched**.

## Design a laser-etched product

A laser-etched product starts from the product catalog, like any other on-demand product:

1. Go to [**Products**](https://admin.fourthwall.com/?redirectPath=/products/all/) and click **Create new product** > **Design a new product**.
2. Choose a product whose method is **Laser etched** and click **Design now**.
3. If the **Laser artwork requirements** dialog opens, review its **One color**, **Small details** and **Gradient & shadow** guidance, then click **I understand**.
4. On the **Artwork** tab, click **Upload image** to add your JPG or PNG artwork.
5. Open the **Engraving** tab to find the engraving controls.

To see the laser artwork guidance again, click **Read all art requirements** on the **Artwork** tab. It reopens **Laser artwork requirements**.

## Engraving controls

The **Engraving** tab in the product designer has two controls for laser-etched products: the **Detail level** slider and the **Invert artwork colors** control. To find them, open the laser-etched product's designer and click the **Engraving** tab.

## Laser etching area and placement

The laser etching area is specific to each product. Keep your artwork inside the decoration area the product designer shows, and use that product's displayed size and resolution. Current examples:

- **Pinnacle Vacuum Insulated Travel Tumbler With Straw.** 3 × 4 inches at 300 dots per inch (DPI).
- **Insulated Tumbler with a Straw.** 2.5 × 4 inches at 300 DPI.

These sizes belong to these two products. There's no single laser etching size for every product.