Exporting
Export is the final step in the CraftStage pipeline. It generates production-ready files that you open in CorelDRAW or your laser software and send to the machine.
Prerequisites
Before you can export:
- A template must be assigned to the job
- Preflight must pass with zero errors (warnings are allowed)
- At least one item must be in the job
Export options
Click Export on the job detail page to open the export dialog. You'll configure:
Machine profile
Select a saved machine profile that matches your laser and material. The profile determines sheet size, margins, spacing, colors, and other settings. You can also customize settings for a one-off export.
Output format
| Format | Best for |
|---|---|
| SVG | Most laser workflows. Opens in CorelDRAW, Illustrator, and most laser software. |
| PDF-based workflows or when you need embedded fonts. |
Text mode
| Mode | Recommendation | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Curves | Recommended for production | Converts all text to vector paths. No font dependencies — the file works on any machine. |
| Live Text | Use when you need post-export edits | Keeps text editable. Requires the fonts to be installed on the machine that opens the file. |
| Embedded Fonts | PDF workflows only | Embeds fonts in the PDF. Works for PDF viewers but not for SVG. |
Additional options
- Only approved items — Export only items that have been approved by the customer (excludes pending and needs-revision items)
- Include cut boundary — Add a cut line around each item
Sheet imposition
If your machine profile includes a sheet size, CraftStage automatically arranges items in a grid layout on the sheet. The export dialog shows a preview of the layout — how many items per sheet, how many sheets total, and how items are arranged.
Items are placed in rows from left to right, top to bottom, with the spacing defined in your machine profile.
Laser export specifications
CraftStage exports files with settings optimized for laser production:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Stroke width | 0.001 inches (0.072 points) — standard hairline for laser cutting |
| Color mode | RGB (never CMYK) |
| Cut color | Configurable per machine profile (default: #FF0000 red) |
| Engrave color | Configurable per machine profile (default: #000000 black) |
| Layer separation | CUT and ENGRAVE groups for easy color-based routing in laser software |
Downloading and using the export
After export completes, click Download to save the file. Open it in CorelDRAW or your laser software. If you used curves mode, you should see no font warnings or substitution dialogs.
The file contains all items arranged on sheets (if imposition was used) with cut and engrave layers separated by color. Set up your laser software's color mapping to route the cut color to your cut settings and the engrave color to your engrave settings.
Re-exporting
You can export the same job multiple times with different settings. Each export is saved in the job's history with its settings, so you can download previous exports if needed.
Next step
That's the end of the core workflow. For practical walkthroughs, see the Guides section. For troubleshooting, see Export Problems.