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Exporting files from Illustrator (.ai/.eps/.svg) to LaserWork

Before starting, make sure Illustrator “Document color mode” is set to RGB:

File => Document color mode

How to create a cutting line?

Section titled “How to create a cutting line?”

Make sure that the line colour of the whole cutting line is the same. In this example, the entire cutting line is blue:

Space shuttle drawing in Illustrator with the whole cutting line in one colour (blue)

Make sure that the whole shape is closed; if that is not the case, follow these steps:

Open shape in Illustrator: the two ends of the line are not joined

Select the pen tool.

Pen Tool (P) in the Illustrator toolbar

Click the anchor point of the shape you want to close.

Clicking the first open anchor point with the Pen Tool in Illustrator

Click the other anchor point to close the shape.

Closing the shape in Illustrator by clicking the second anchor point

How to create engraving lines?

Section titled “How to create engraving lines?”

Make sure the line colour of the engraving lines is the same everywhere. In this example, all engraving lines are red:

Space shuttle drawing in Illustrator with all engraving lines in red and the cutting line in blue

How to save the file so it can be opened in LaserWork

Section titled “How to save the file so it can be opened in LaserWork”

LaserWork operates with an old file format of Illustrator only.

File => Save as… Save the file as .ai.

Illustrator Save As dialogue with the file type set to Adobe Illustrator (*.AI)

From the screen that opens, choose Version: Japanese Illustrator 3

Illustrator Options: choosing Japanese Illustrator 3 from the Version list

Click OK

Illustrator Options set to Japanese Illustrator 3, ready to confirm with OK

Opening the .ai file in LaserWork

Section titled “Opening the .ai file in LaserWork”

Open LaserWork => Click import

Import button in the LaserWorks V6 toolbar

Open the file you were just saving from Illustrator.

Illustrator file opened in LaserWorks V6, with each line colour as a separate layer

The colours you specified in Illustrator are now visible in LaserWork. These colours have now become layers in LaserWork, so all settings can be adjusted per layer.

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