Etch Express vs EngraveLab
EngraveLab is the established design-and-production suite in trophy shops. Etch Express sits upstream: it reads the order however it arrives, batch-designs with variables, and exports files EngraveLab or your machine software can run.
EngraveLab has earned its place: five editions, a badge feature that merges spreadsheet data into templates, and real depth in braille and photo engraving. The catch is everything before that. The badge wizard wants clean, columnar data in a prebuilt template - real orders arrive as spreadsheets, PDFs, and handwriting. The gap is clear: Etch Express covers the messy first mile, in a browser, for any machine.
Side by side
| Etch Express | EngraveLab | |
|---|---|---|
| Import messy orders (Excel, PDF, handwriting) | Etch ExpressAI parsing into an editable data table | EngraveLabBadge wizard needs clean columnar data |
| Design canvas with variable fields | Etch ExpressYes | EngraveLabYes - deep vector design tools |
| Auto-layout to blanks or bed | Etch ExpressAutomatic grid from your dimensions | EngraveLabTemplate and serialization set up per job |
| Drives the machine / runs the job | Etch ExpressNo - exports SVG & PDF | EngraveLabYes - laser and rotary drivers |
| Platform & extra stations | Etch ExpressWeb-based, works on any device | EngraveLabWindows 10/11 desktop installs |
| Material & inventory tracking | Etch ExpressBuilt in | EngraveLabNot included |
Choose Etch Express when
- Orders arrive as spreadsheets, PDFs, and handwriting that someone retypes today
- You want batch design and layout without per-job template and serialization setup
- You run multiple stores or stations and want everyone in one browser-based workspace
- You want order status, inventory, and material costs tracked alongside design
Stick with EngraveLab when
- You need ADA braille, 3D relief carving, or photo engraving
- You want one tool that designs and physically drives the machine
- Your data already arrives clean and your operators know the badge workflow cold
Bring your art with you
Leaving EngraveLab doesn't mean leaving your art. Export your plates once as PDF, EPS, or SVG - they come back as living templates.
- Drop in PDF, EPS, or SVG - straight from EngraveLab
- Plate size, layout, and fonts detected automatically
- Fixed names become variables - your designs, batch-ready
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my existing EngraveLab templates into Etch Express?
Yes. Export your plate designs to PDF, EPS, or SVG and import them into Etch Express - it detects the plate size, places the elements, and matches fonts, so years of template work carries over instead of starting from scratch.
Is Etch Express a replacement for EngraveLab?
For variable-data batch work - name badges, award plates, league orders - it replaces the retyping, template setup, and layout steps. EngraveLab still goes deeper on braille, 3D, and photo engraving, and it drives machines directly. Many shops keep it for those jobs and feed it cleaner files from Etch Express.
EngraveLab already does variable-data badges. Why add Etch Express?
The badge feature works when the data is clean, columnar, and mapped into a prebuilt template. Real orders rarely arrive that way. Etch Express parses the spreadsheet, PDF, or handwritten sheet into an editable table first, then handles layout automatically - the steps that eat the hour before EngraveLab's badge wizard is even usable.
Do the files Etch Express exports work with EngraveLab?
Yes. Etch Express exports standard SVG and PDF, which EngraveLab imports like any other vector artwork - as does whatever other software drives your machines.
See where Etch Express fits your shop
Try it free for 30 days. Bring a real order and watch a full batch go from list to production-ready in minutes.