PatchForge — Materials, UV vs. Laser & Effects

• Can I preview an embroidered look?

  Yes. Turn on "Simulate embroidery stitch texture" in the toolbar to preview the woven, stitched finish of an embroidered patch.

• How does dual- and tri-layer acrylic work?

  Layered acrylic is a solid top color bonded over one color (dual-layer) or two colors (tri-layer) beneath it. Engraving cuts through the top to reveal a lower color, so one sheet produces two or three colors with no ink. The top layer is the bare, unengraved surface — negative space. By default e...

• How do leather engrave colors work?

  Each leather and leatherette has a real engrave color — the tone that shows when the laser burns that specific material. Names read as base/engrave; for example "Rawhide/Black" is a rawhide-colored surface that engraves to black. When you select a leather and switch to laser, the preview recolors...

• What is the difference between UV Printed and Engraved?

  UV Printed is full-color ink printed onto the material — your artwork keeps its original colors, so it is best for colorful logos and photos. Engraved means a laser removes or darkens the surface, so your artwork takes on the material's engrave color (black, gold, silver, and so on); the preview ...

• What materials can I choose?

  Leather and leatherette in the full catalog of colorways (each with its true engrave color), vinyl for full-color print/cut work, and dual- and tri-layer acrylics that engrave to reveal their bonded layer colors. Open "Materials" from the account menu to browse the whole catalog with per-square-i...

• Why can I not engrave some materials?

  Some materials only do one of the two. Tri-layer acrylic is engrave-only (the laser reveals the bonded colors beneath), while plastic and fabric are print-only. In the material picker those groups are labelled "UV only" or "Engrave only", and the toolbar toggle disables the option a material cann...