Ever since we launched our blog post about engravings and introduced the option to customize your sword with one, we’ve been receiving an increasing number of inquiries about the options and limitations of engraving at SIGI. In this article, we’ll go over a few key points:
- Ideal format for engraving
- Maximum size and possible positions
- Limits of engraving
- Complexity and pricing
What is the ideal format for us?
The engraving machine we use works best with vector file formats—these are not raster images but mathematical representations of visuals. Vector images do not lose resolution when scaled up or down, and the laser achieves the highest precision when using them. They come in various file formats, with the most common being .pdf, .svg, .ai, or .eps. Any of these will work.
One common mistake is assuming that placing a raster image inside a PDF file converts it to a vector format—it doesn’t. It remains a raster image wrapped in a .pdf file. We recommend using modern tools like AI-powered software or free online converters to transform raster images into vectors. Alternatively, we can convert them for you, but this may incur additional costs depending on the image’s complexity.
Note: If you’re looking to engrave text, we can do it if you provide us with a font you own or one that is free to use. You can also leave the font choice to us.
Maximum size and possible engraving areas
Currently, we use a lens that allows us to engrave an area of 15×15 cm (5.9 inches), which is more than enough for any sword. A smaller engraving area allows for deeper and more precise engravings, though stretching to the edges of this limit is not recommended, as precision and depth decrease slightly at the borders.
Engraving areas: Any flat surface can be engraved, including those with fullers, such as the Gothic or King models. We most commonly engrave on the schilt, but we can also engrave some crossguards, disc pommels, and minimally rounded areas. Additionally, we can engrave different designs on both sides of the schilt, blade, or sometimes even on the pommel, though this may slightly increase the engraving cost.
We can engrave feders, rapiers, sabers—essentially all of our blades.
What are the limitations?
We can engrave black-and-white vector images, but we cannot engrave photos or highly complex images. Extremely thin lines and fine text may smudge or fail to engrave properly due to the laser size we use.
An example image with lines that are too thin—compared to what is optimal—can be found in the photo below. Feel free to consult with us to determine whether we can engrave your image. 🙂
Complexity affects the price of your engraving
Along with size (larger engravings are more expensive), complexity also affects pricing. More intricate designs take longer to set up and engrave, increasing costs. That doesn’t mean complexity is a bad thing—it’s just something to keep in mind.
However, some engravings may be too complex for any machine to engrave at a high-quality, durable level. In particular, extremely thin lines cannot be engraved with sufficient clarity.
A few more points:
- Engravings do not structurally weaken the sword—they are only a fraction of a millimeter deep but appear more pronounced.
- We can add an engraving while your sword is still in our backlog—and sometimes even while it is in production (or even finished). Feel free to contact us about this.
- You can include a note about your engraving request and send us the files once we confirm your order (we’ll ask for them).
- The typical price for an engraving is €15–30 per side of the sword, depending on the factors discussed above. 🙂
As usual, if you have any questions feel free to reach us through email or social media.