Designs are extensively customized before laser engraving using specialized graphic design software. Vector-based programs like Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, or Inkscape are predominantly used for their precision in handling lines, shapes, and text, while raster editors such as Adobe Photoshop are employed for image manipulation, adjusting attributes like contrast, brightness, and converting images to appropriate formats (e.g., dithered, grayscale, black & white) for optimal etching.

Within these applications, users gain granular control. Text can be formatted, resized, positioned, and converted to outlines to maintain font integrity. Geometric shapes can be drawn, imported, combined, subtracted, or intersected to form intricate patterns. Images are cropped, scaled, and processed to achieve desired engraving effects. Beyond basic creation, elements can be precisely scaled to fit material dimensions, rotated for optimal placement, or mirrored for reverse-side engraving. Objects can be aligned, grouped, or duplicated to create cohesive layouts.

Advanced customization involves mapping different colors or grayscale values within the design to specific laser parameters like power, speed, or frequency. This allows for multi-depth engraving, differentiation between cutting and etching, or achieving varied textures. Path optimization and node editing ensure clean, efficient laser paths. Kerf compensation can be applied for precise cuts. Finally, the software often provides a visual preview of the design on the material, allowing for final adjustments and material-specific parameter fine-tuning before the physical engraving process begins.