How to Prepare a Logo for YETI® Engraving

Adding a company, sporting club or team logo to a YETI® can create a practical personalised product that looks clean, professional and unmistakably yours.

However, a logo designed for a website, social media profile or printed brochure may need to be adjusted before it is suitable for laser engraving.

Gradients, shadows, tiny wording and extremely fine lines can look great on a screen but may lose clarity when the design is reduced to fit a bottle, tumbler, mug or Colster® can cooler.

Here is how to prepare your logo for the best possible engraving result.

Start With the Best Logo File Available

A vector file is generally the best format for engraving because it can be resized without becoming blurry or pixelated.

Preferred logo formats include:

• SVG
• EPS
• AI
• Vector PDF

A high-resolution PNG can also work well, particularly when it has a transparent background and sharp, clearly defined edges.

JPG files may still be suitable, but they can contain compression, blurred edges or a solid background. Avoid screenshots, social media profile pictures and small logos copied from websites wherever possible.

Do not have a vector file? Send us the clearest version available. The ETCH team reviews uploaded artwork before engraving and can identify whether it needs additional preparation.

Contact ETCH about your artwork

Remove the Background

Where possible, provide your logo with a transparent background.

A logo placed inside a white rectangle may be treated as one complete image, particularly if it has been saved as a JPG. Removing the background helps create a cleaner result and prevents an unwanted box from appearing around the engraved design.

The best options are:

• A vector logo with no background
• A transparent PNG
• A clean black-and-white image on a plain background

Avoid sending a photograph of a logo printed on a vehicle, shirt, business card or sign unless no original artwork is available.

Convert Full-Colour Logos Into Engraving Artwork

Laser engraving does not reproduce a logo using coloured ink.

On colour-coated drinkware, engraving generally removes the outer finish to reveal the stainless-steel colour underneath. This means a full-colour logo normally needs to be converted into a strong single-colour design.

The engraving-ready version may use:

• Solid engraved areas
• Unengraved negative space
• Clean outlines
• Simplified shapes
• Carefully separated design elements

Colours with similar brightness can merge together when converted to black and white, so some adjustment may be required to keep the logo recognisable.

Learn more about engraving finishes in our custom engraving FAQ.

Simplify Gradients and Shadows

Gradients and digital effects often need to be removed or simplified.

These may include:

• Drop shadows
• Glows
• Colour fades
• Transparent overlays
• Metallic effects
• Three-dimensional effects
• Very subtle textures

These elements can often be converted into solid shapes, outlines or simple patterns.

The goal is not always to reproduce every part of the original artwork. The goal is to create an engraving that remains clear and recognisable on the selected YETI® product.

Check Small Text

Many business logos contain a company name, slogan, establishment date or secondary wording.

When the logo is reduced, this smaller wording may become difficult to read.

For a clearer result:

• Remove unnecessary wording
• Enlarge important text
• Avoid very thin fonts
• Increase the spacing between letters
• Use a simplified version of the logo
• Move secondary wording to the opposite side

A popular corporate layout is to engrave the company logo on one side and the employee’s name on the other.

Visit our Corporate Orders page for business, staff and bulk engraving enquiries.

Make Fine Lines More Visible

Thin borders, delicate script fonts and detailed illustrations may become faint once engraved.

Check the artwork for:

• Fine outlines
• Closely spaced lines
• Delicate lettering
• Narrow gaps
• Detailed patterns
• Small negative spaces
• Overlapping elements

Increasing the thickness of important lines can improve the strength and clarity of the finished engraving.

Convert Fonts to Outlines

When supplying an AI, SVG, EPS or PDF file, convert the fonts to outlines or curves before saving it.

This turns the text into permanent vector shapes and prevents another program from replacing the original font.

Without outlined fonts, the appearance, spacing and alignment of the logo can change when the artwork is opened on a different computer.

Consider the Product Shape

The proportions of the logo should suit the shape of the selected product.

For example:

• Tall logos can work well on drink bottles
• Wide logos may require a broader engraving layout
• Circular badges can suit mugs and tumblers
• Simple logos work well on smaller Colster® can coolers
• Detailed photographs and logos may benefit from a larger product

Explore our engraving ranges:

• Custom YETI® drink bottles
• Custom YETI® tumblers
• Custom YETI® coffee mugs
• Custom YETI® Colster® can coolers

Do You Need to Prepare the Logo Yourself?

No. You do not need to be a graphic designer to order custom engraving.

Upload the best-quality logo available and ETCH will review it before production. Minor preparation may include removing backgrounds, improving contrast or adjusting the artwork for engraving.

Complex logo redraws or substantial artwork changes may require additional preparation.

Logo Preparation Checklist

Before uploading your logo, check that:

• You are using the clearest file available
• A vector file has been supplied where possible
• The background has been removed
• Important text is readable
• Fine lines are not excessively thin
• Gradients and shadows can be simplified
• Fonts have been converted to outlines
• You have permission to use the logo
• All wording and spelling are correct
• The design suits the selected product

Create a Custom Logo-Engraved YETI®

Choose a brand-new product from our New YETI® collection, or personalise a suitable product you already own through our BYO YETI® engraving service.

For staff gifts, branded drinkware, project-completion gifts and business orders, visit our Corporate Orders page.