Mingle & share

Why do I need to transfer my design to the Ponoko templates?

The Ponoko templates are there to help you make Ponoko-ready .eps files. The templates are already formatted so they are the correct size, contain the 'safe' cutting area and have the correct color mode for our laser-cutter.

Do I HAVE to use the Ponoko templates?

No, but we recommend you do. We created them so that you don't have to set up the correct size, safe 'cutting area' and color mode each time you create a design file for Ponoko.

What software are the Ponoko templates compatible with?

We've made starter kits for Adobe Illustrator CS®, Macromedia Freehand MX®, Inkscape and CorelDraw X3®. You can download them here. Please let us know if you use other design software.

Why do I have to save my designs as .eps files?

Ponoko only accepts .eps files. Eps files have a greater degree of accuracy than other file formats. This means you have greater control over your design.

Unfortunately, one size does not fit all when it comes to .eps files! Although we would dearly love it if all vector art software treated .eps files the same, they just don't!

To help, we've created step-by-step instructions for saving .eps files for vector art packages. Read the Adobe Illustrator CS® steps, Macromedia Freehand MX® steps, CorelDraw X3® steps or Inkscape steps. These steps are also in our downloadable starter kits.

Why can I only upload .eps files?

We have chosen to use .eps files because they have a greater degree of accuracy than other file formats. This means you have greater control over your design. We are currently investigating how to accept other file formats.

Why have you changed the templates and the making guide?

Unfortunately, we've been finding out that one size does not fit all when it comes to .eps files. Adobe Illustrator CS®, Macromedia Freehand MX®, Inkscape and CorelDraw X3® all handle .eps files differently - which has been causing problems for everyone!

We did a bit of investigation and saw that we needed to provide templates that work in each of these vector art packages.

So we've been busy and created 4 downloadable starter kits. They contain new Ponoko templates and a revised making guide for Adobe Illustrator CS®, Macromedia Freehand MX®, Inkscape and CorelDraw X3®. The new making guide outlines the design steps you need to follow to make sure the .eps files you create upload properly.

I have the old .eps templates and making guide, what do I do?

You'll need to download one of the new starter kits. They contain unique templates and making steps for Adobe Illustrator CS®, Macromedia Freehand MX®, Inkscape and CorelDraw X3®. You can also download a 'general' making guide that shows you the design process to make with Ponoko - but doesn't outline the unique steps for saving .eps files.

What happens if I don't follow the new steps?

When you try and upload your design files to My Ponoko, it's likely to give you an error message.

The problem is this: when you open an .eps file in Adobe Illustrator CS®, Macromedia Freehand MX® or CorelDraw X3®, it converts the .eps to another format. Even worse, if you make changes and save it - while it may look like it has saved as an .eps file - it actually saves over the .eps in a new format. If this happens, you're likely to get into real trouble when you try and upload it to My Ponoko - and it will give you an error message.

We had to make a trade-off in order to provide you with templates that work in the vector art software you use. You get templates that work in the software you work in, but we have to rely on you to follow the design steps to make sure your .eps file will upload properly.

We are currently investigating how to accept other file formats - we'll keep you posted on our blog.

How do I export .eps files from CorelDRAW X3®?

CorelDRAW X3®

Step 1. Transfer your design onto our templates. Choose 'File > Export' and select 'Save as type: EPS - Encapsulated Postscript'

Step 2. If you like, change the name - then click 'Export.' Make sure there are no special characters such as #$&*?!/;: in your name, and that the name ends with .eps.

Step 3. Make sure the EPS Export panel looks the same as this, then click 'OK'

You're now ready to upload your .eps to My Ponoko...

How do I export .eps files from Adobe Illustrator CS®?

Adobe Illustrator CS®

Step 1. Transfer your design onto our templates. Choose 'File > Save as' and select the format as 'Illustrator EPS'

Step 2. If you like, change the name - then click 'Export.' Make sure there are no special characters such as #$&*?!/;: in your name, and that the name ends with .eps.

Step 3. Select the format as 'Illustrator 8 EPS' format

Step 4. Make sure your final EPS Options panel looks the same as this, then click 'OK'

You're now ready to upload your .eps to My Ponoko...

How do I export .eps files from Macromedia Freehand MX®?

Macromedia Freehand MX®

Step 1. Transfer your design onto our templates. Choose 'File > Save as' and select 'Format: Editable EPS'

Step 2. If you like, change the name - then click 'Export.' Make sure there are no special characters such as #$&*?!/;: in your name. You'll need to add '.eps' to the end of your name as Freehand doesn't add it for you.

You're now ready to upload your .eps to My Ponoko...

How do I export .eps files from Inkscape?

Inkscape

Step 1. Transfer your design onto our templates. Choose 'File > Save as' and select the format as 'Encapsulated Postscript (*.eps)'

Step 2. If you like, change the name - then click 'Save.' Make sure there are no special characters such as #$&*?!/;: in your name, and that the name ends with .eps.

Step 3. When this panel appears, make sure "Convert text to paths' is ticked, then click 'OK'

You're now ready to upload your .eps to My Ponoko...

Help! I've followed these instructions and it's not working!

Please get in touch if you're still having problems