CraftStage Documentation
Learn how to use CraftStage to turn messy rosters into laser-ready production files — with AI parsing, preflight validation, and customer approval built in.
Welcome to CraftStage. This documentation covers everything you need to go from a messy customer email to a laser-ready export file in minutes.
What is CraftStage?
CraftStage is a production-grade variable-data engine for laser personalization shops. It replaces the fragile CorelDRAW Print Merge workflow with a reliable, automated pipeline that guarantees every name fits, every proof is approved, and every export is laser-ready.
How to use these docs
New to CraftStage?
Start with the Overview to understand what CraftStage does, then follow the Quickstart to create your first export.
Learning the workflow?
The Core Workflow section walks through each stage of the production pipeline — from creating a job through exporting laser-ready files.
Looking for practical examples?
The Guides section has end-to-end walkthroughs for real scenarios like processing a trophy order or configuring your laser.
Running into issues?
The Troubleshooting section covers common problems and how to resolve them.
The CraftStage pipeline
Every job in CraftStage follows the same production pipeline:
Messy Input → AI Parsing → Field Mapping → Layout Engine → Preflight → Proofs → Approval → ExportEach stage is designed to catch problems early so you never discover an issue after material is on the laser bed.
Key capabilities
AI-Powered Parsing — Paste an email or upload an Excel file. CraftStage extracts names, titles, and other fields automatically — no reformatting required.
Deterministic Layout Engine — Text is measured and fitted precisely. Long names shrink to fit, addresses wrap to multiple lines, and nothing ever silently overflows.
Preflight Validation — Every item is checked before production. Overflow, missing fields, and special characters are flagged so you can fix them before they become scrapped material.
Text-to-Curves Export — Exported files convert text to vector paths by default, eliminating font substitution surprises when files move between machines.
Customer Proof Portal — Generate a single link for your customer to review and approve all proofs. No email chains, no account required.
Machine Profiles — Save export settings for each of your lasers. Sheet size, margins, cut colors, and text mode are all stored and reusable.