Machine Profiles
A machine profile stores all the export settings for a specific laser and material combination. Instead of configuring the same settings every time you export, you select a profile and everything is pre-configured.
What a profile stores
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Descriptive label (e.g., "Epilog Helix — Acrylic") | Required |
| Format | Output file format: SVG or PDF | SVG |
| Text mode | How text is rendered: Curves, Live Text, or Embedded Fonts | Curves |
| Stroke width | Hairline width for cut lines (in inches) | 0.001" |
| Cut color | RGB color for cut lines | #FF0000 (red) |
| Engrave color | RGB color for engrave areas | #000000 (black) |
| Sheet size | Width and height of your material sheet (for imposition) | Optional |
| Margins | Top, right, bottom, left margins (in inches) | 0.25" each |
| Spacing | Horizontal and vertical spacing between items | 0.125" each |
| Cut boundary | Whether to include a cut line around each item | Off |
| Registration marks | Whether to add corner alignment marks | Off |
| Job info | Whether to annotate sheets with job ID and sheet number | Off |
Creating a profile
Navigate to Machine Profiles in the settings area and click Create Profile.
Give it a clear, descriptive name that includes the machine model and material type. For example:
- "Epilog Helix 24×12 — Acrylic"
- "Trotec Speedy 300 — Anodized Aluminum"
- "Universal VLS 6.60 — Wood"
Fill in the settings that match your laser and typical material. If you're not sure about a setting, the defaults are safe starting points for most setups.
Setting a default profile
Mark one profile as the default for your organization. The default profile is automatically selected when you open the export dialog, saving you a click on every export. You can always switch to a different profile for individual exports.
To set a default, open the profile and toggle the Default setting, or use the "Set as Default" action from the profile list.
When to create multiple profiles
Create separate profiles when:
- Different machines have different sheet sizes or color mappings
- Different materials need different margins or spacing (e.g., pre-cut blanks vs. full sheets)
- Different workflows require different output formats (SVG for CorelDRAW, PDF for a different workflow)
- Different text modes are needed (curves for production, live text for samples that may need edits)
How profiles affect export
When you export a job, the selected profile determines:
- The output format and text mode
- How items are arranged on sheets (based on sheet size, margins, and spacing)
- The colors used for cut and engrave layers
- Whether cut boundaries, registration marks, and job info are included
You can override any profile setting in the export dialog for a one-off export without changing the saved profile.
For recommended settings by laser brand, see the Setting Up Your Laser guide.