Prepare your logo for a clear imprint
A roller stamp prints one continuous band, so what works here is a little different from printing on paper. This page shows you exactly what prints well and what does not. You do not need to get it right on your own, though. We lay out every order for you and send a free proof to approve before anything is engraved.
What happens when you order
- 1
Tell us what to engrave
Type your text or attach a logo on the product page, then complete checkout. You can also arrange a PNG, JPG or text yourself in the design editor.
- 2
We draw it up
Our designer lays out your band, picks the spacing and checks every rule on this page for you.
- 3
You approve a free proof
We send you a picture of exactly what will be engraved. We engrave after you approve it. Proof revisions are free.
- 4
We engrave and ship
Typically made within 5 business days after proof approval, then sent with tracking. Keep the handle and swap in a new engraved roll when your design changes.
The three rules that matter
Start with readable lettering, enough stroke weight and small gaps.
Big and bold beats small and thin
A roller presses ink through a raised surface. Anything too fine has nothing to press with.
Bold strokes keep their shape
Hairlines fill in or vanish
Keep the gaps tight
A wide empty stretch can interrupt the ink transfer and make the next part of the imprint uneven.
Under 5mm between repeats
Wide gaps smudge
Capitals are your friend
Letters that hang below the line, like g, y and j, sit closest to the edge of the band and are the first to lose detail.
Even height, full band
Descenders crowd the edge
Pick how your text repeats
Every roller prints the same segment over and over. These are the six ways we lay that repeat out. Each strip below is what it looks like rolling across a box.
1.Endless
Your text repeats with no gap between, one unbroken band.
2.With lines
A line before and after each repeat, like printed tape.
3.Connector symbols
A dot, star or dash sits between each repeat.
4.Underlined
One continuous underline runs the whole length of the band.
5.Inversion
The ink prints the background and your text stays the colour of the box. Use an alcohol marker such as Molotow.
6.Designer's choice
Not sure? Tell us the feel you want and we lay it out for you.
Want something that doesn't fit these styles? Contact us before ordering and we'll work out the artwork together, every custom order gets a free proof to approve before we engrave.
Fonts that engrave well
These are examples we can use when preparing your artwork after an order. The online editor has its own font menu. If you have a brand font, send it with your artwork and we will check how it prints at the chosen size.
Arial
Simple, familiar lettering.
Tektur / Block Light
Straight-sided, geometric lettering.
Montserrat
Clean, rounded lettering.
DIN
Compact lettering for longer names and phrases.
Sending us a logo
These are drawing files rather than pictures. They can be scaled to any size without going blurry, which is what lets us engrave a clean edge. A screenshot, a photo of a business card or a logo pulled off a website is usually too low-resolution to cut from, though we will always tell you rather than guess. Prefer to see it laid out yourself? The design editor takes high-resolution PNG or JPG and checks the result live.
- .svg
- .eps
- .ai
Only have a PNG or a photo of your logo? Send it anyway. We will look at it and tell you whether it can be engraved as is or needs redrawing first.
The full checklist
The engraved roll transfers ink continuously, so a design with horizontal gaps larger than 5mm can smudge or print unevenly. The design editor checks this for you live. If your layout needs bigger gaps, message us first, we'll adapt it.The engraved roll transfers ink continuously, so a design with horizontal gaps larger than 0.2" can smudge or print unevenly. The design editor checks this for you live. If your layout needs bigger gaps, message us first, we'll adapt it.
Works well
- Use mostly UPPERCASE letters, they transfer most cleanly.
- Keep symbols simple: spaces, dots, dashes and stars (•, -, ★) all work.
- Send logos as vector files (.svg, .eps, .ai, .pdf).
- Keep horizontal gaps under 5mm so the band reads as continuous.Keep horizontal gaps under 0.2" so the band reads as continuous.
Causes trouble
- Very small text or tiny symbols, they clog with ink.
- Thin typefaces and lines under ~1mm, they won't engrave reliably.Thin typefaces and lines under ~0.04", they won't engrave reliably.
- Complex decorative detail, fine scripts or gradients.
- Lowercase letters with deep descenders (g, y, j) where a capital works.
Need help with your artwork?
Most people are not designers, and you do not have to be. Send us your text or your logo and we will check it against everything on this page for free, before you pay anything. If it needs changing, we will tell you what and why.