Artwork Guidelines for Custom Metal Business Cards

April 7, 2023

How to Prepare Artwork for Laser Engraved Metal Cards

In this guide, we’ll walk through the most common file types, sizing rules, and tips for getting the highest quality engraving possible.

✅ What File Types Are Best for Laser Engraving?

We accept most common file formats, but for best engraving quality,

🎨 Download our Artwork Guidelines PDF here

Preferred file types:

SVG (vector)
PDF (vector or high-res raster)
PNG (transparent background preferred)
AI or PSD (Adobe files)

Also accepted:

High-resolution JPGs
EPS, TIFF, or other print formats

💡 Tip: Avoid screenshots, photos of screens, or low-res images — they often engrave blurry or jagged.

🖼️ Resolution & Sizing Tips

Side-by-side: low-res upload, vector conversion, final engraved card

300 DPI is ideal for raster images (JPG, PNG, etc.)
Minimum 750 pixels wide for best detail
Send the artwork at the size you want engraved or larger — never smaller

We automatically size your design to fit the standard card (3.4” x 2.13”), but the cleaner your file, the better the result.

🎨 Vector vs. Raster — What’s the Difference?

Vector files (SVG, PDF, AI) = Perfect for engraving

They scale infinitely with no loss of quality
Great for logos, text, line art

Raster files (JPG, PNG, etc.) = Use with caution

They’re made of pixels, not lines
High-res is required for clean results

✅ JPEG often works great for metal business cards, but if you have a vector version of your logo, send it first.

🖌️ What About Color?

color swatch of 9 color options for custom metal business cards

Since we laser engrave into anodized aluminum, all designs engrave revealing the silver color underneath. Your submitted color doesn’t matter — we focus on contrast.

That said...don’t stress! We have in-house workflows to clean up, sharpen, and convert most low-quality artwork into engraving-ready designs. That said:

⚠️ The better the file you send, the better the final result.
Submitting clean, high-resolution artwork ensures your card looks exactly how you want it — without compromise or guesswork.

We can fix blurry logos or recreate rough designs, but if you want full control over the outcome, following the file guidelines above is the best way to get there.

💬 What If I Don’t Have a Logo?

private property metal signage example photo

Don’t worry—we’ll help you get started from scratch. We can typeset your name, title, or business name in a clean font if you don’t have artwork. Or let our design team help bring your concept to life.

We can engrave:

Custom text-only designs
Any artwork or photos, directly from your mobile device
QR codes, Barcodes
Simple layouts with your business contact information or tagline

Just upload what you have and leave a note at checkout. We’ll help from there.

👀 Will I See a Proof or Mockup First?

For bulk orders, yes — please request us to send a digital mockup and test engraving photo before engraving
For single card orders, we review every file manually and will contact you if anything looks off

Our goal is to make sure your design looks sharp and accurate — whether it’s one card or 1,000.

📤 How to Send Us Your Artwork

During checkout, you'll have the option to:

Upload your file(s)
Add design notes and/or special instructions

Already placed your order but forgot to upload? No problem. Just email your artwork to michael@custommetalbusinesscards.com with your order number.

📦 Submit Your Artwork & Start Engraving

Fast Turnaround: Most orders ship in 1 business day from our U.S. workshop ⚡
Trusted by over 10,000 customers with a 4.8-star average rating 🏅

Upload your file now and create a card that gets remembered. Whether you're ordering one or one thousand, we’ve got your back — and we make sure it’s engraved right the first time.

Still have questions? Check out our full FAQ guide