How it works

So, how does it all work?

So long as you can draw a shape and take a photo, you can make something with Photomake. Here's the process you follow. Once you've created an image of your design, head to Photomake and upload it, choose a material, get an instant price to have it made, confirm your order, then click to make. We'll have your design made and delivered to your door. (You can track its progress in your online MyPonoko account, by receiving email updates or by grabbing an RSS feed.)

Do I have to use design software?

No. With Photomake, you can make a product without using design software. That's what makes it so easy. All you do is hand draw your design using good old fashioned pen and paper – then photograph it with a digital camera or scan it.

Can I use design software if I want to?

Sure. If you'd rather use software for your design, you can use graphics programs like Photoshop, GIMP or Microsoft Paint, and any other program that will save a jpg, gif, or png file.

What level of 'design file to make' accuracy can I expect?

Digital making is a very precise process – you can expect to get back exactly what you submit to be made. So if your hand drawing has some natural imperfections in it, these lovely bumps will be seen in your product. And if your digital drawing (using graphics software like Photoshop, GIMP or Microsoft Paint) has bumps designed in, you will get these too. But remember, if you want 'perfect' accuracy, then Designmake is the ideal Ponoko service for you.

What level of 'drawing to design file' accuracy can I expect?

Some of the original detail is lost when Photomake converts your drawing from an image file to a make-able design file. Less detail is lost when you use graphics software (like Photoshop, GIMP or Microsoft Paint) than when you submit a photo of a design you've drawn using pen and paper. But remember, if you want 'perfect' accuracy, then Designmake is the ideal Ponoko service for you.

Can I sell my design? Or give it away?

Yes. You can do all the things with your design you're able to do using our traditional Designmake service.

Design Tips

What shapes work the best?

Always draw 'closed shapes' because the laser-cutter will ignore lines that do not connect at both ends. One idea is to draw shapes lightly in pencil first and then trace over them with a thick black felt tip pen. You also could draw something on paper or card, cut it out with a pair of scissors and use that as a stencil - tracing around it onto another piece of paper using a thick black felt tip pen.

What line weight should I use in my hand drawings?

You need to use heavy solid lines with no gaps. Use thick black felt tip pens and markers. Feel free to upload as many trials as you want to get it just right.

What kind of paper should I use?

Draw your design on plain white paper. It will work best if there are no grid lines, punch holes, margins, spines etc. (You don't want to confuse the laser!) And thick paper stops pen bleed.

Any tips for photographing my design?

Again, the idea is to go for the sharpest contrast possible. Try to have an even tone across the paper (e.g. no shadows). You may need to crop your photo so only the paper is visible.

What size restrictions are there?

At this stage you can only make things that fit into an area 7.1 inches by 7.1 inches (181mm x 181mm). You'll see these dimensions online once you upload your image to Photomake,

How do I scale my drawing?

You have two options here. The easy option is just to zoom out a bit with your camera so there is more white space around the image. Alternatively, you can open your image in graphics software like Photoshop, GIMP or Microsoft Paint and increase the size of the space around the drawing.

What stroke width should I use if I am using graphics software to draw a picture of my product?

You will get the best results with lines that have a stroke width of 5 pixels.

How many pixels per inch are used by Photomake?

The system assumes 72 pixels per inch. This means that an image of 512 pixels by 512 pixels will equate to the 7.1 inches by 7.1 inches (181mm x 181mm) material size.

Can I do any engraving?

No, not just yet. Photomake is currently limited to cutting only. Take a look at our Designmake service if you'd like to engrave your design.

Uploading Images

What files types can I upload?

You can upload any jpg, gif, or png file.

What happens after I upload my image?

Photomake automatically converts and saves your image as an svg file. This is a vector image of your design we can use to make your design digitally.

Can I edit the design file online before making it?

Sorry – not at the moment, but we're working on it. However, you can drop an image file into Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw and continue to tweak it until it works exactly how you want it to.

What happens to my image file after I have it made?

Once you have made your design, the converted file will be automatically added to the design library within your private online MyPonoko account. This design file will be locked while your product is being made. Once the making process is complete, you'll be able to download it, edit it and / or order it again.

Can I get the converted design file?

Yes, but only after you have made it. It will be saved to the design library in your private online MyPonoko account.

I uploaded an image but nothing showed up in the "processed image" window. What happened?

It's likely the lines you have drawn are too light or the shapes are not closed. You need to use heavy solid lines with no gaps. Use thick black felt tip pens and markers and always draw 'closed shapes' because the laser-cutter will ignore lines that do not connect at both ends. (You might want to check out the FAQs under 'Design tips' above.)

I uploaded my photo but all I got was a few dots. What can I do to make it work better?

First, make sure you're not using a flash when taking the photo. The flash creates a reflection on the black line and it makes it harder for our software to read. If you have graphics software like Photoshop, GIMP or Microsoft Paint, you can edit the photo to make it easier to read. Try adjusting the levels of your photo so the lines are solid black on a plain white background. It's best to change it to grayscale and remove any color information as this can trick our software.