Here’s how to get going with Ponoko …

1) Look for creative inspiration
Check out these sites for some great ideas for your next product design:

• Ponoko Shop
• Ponoko Blog
• SupermarketHQ
• Mocoloco
• Core77
• Designboom
• Notcot
• ETSY

2A) Create your own product design
Now take the inspiration from above and create what’s on your mind:

1. Open the Ponoko Design Template in a vector design package like Adobe Illustrator, Corel DRAW, Macromedia Freehand or the FREE Inkscape.
2. Draw the outlines of your product design for cutting in blue, with a line weight of exactly 0.001mm (or 0.003 in Inkscape).
3. Add some engraving details in black or grey.
4. ‘Save as’ or ‘Export’ your design as an eps file to your computer.

You are now ready to upload this design from your computer to your Ponoko account, to be made in 2 minutes and 57 seconds!

2B) Or download someone else’s open design – free or paid
If you don’t want to design from scratch you can grab a design someone else has created and get it made, or you can tweak it with your own ideas:

1. Head to the Ponoko Showroom and search the downloadable product designs.
2. Choose your favorite and download the  design files to your computer (or add them direct to your Ponoko account).
3. If you wish, you can make your own personal changes to the design!

You are now ready to upload this design to your Ponoko account, to be made in 2 minutes and 57 seconds.

3) Optimize your product design
When you’re using a vector design package, there’s a couple of little secrets you’ll want to remember:

1. Make sure your line weights are 0.001mm (or 0.003 in Inkscape).
2. Any colors you use (blue, black or grey) are in RGB.
3. Your design fits within the Ponoko Design Template.
4. You choose the same size piece of material (either P1, P2 or P3) as the Design Template you have used.

4) Enhance your product design with FREE vector art
Once you have sorted out your essential product design, you can jazz it up with some freely available digital art:

1. Go to sites like Vecteezy, find a design pattern you like and download it.
2. Open the design in your desired design package and tweak it how you please.
3. Add it to your product design.
4. Export your design from your design package as an eps file and place it on a Ponoko design template.

Questions?
Share them with us here, or email us at: service [at] ponoko [dot] com.