Good custom dice artwork starts with a vector logo, a compact version of your mark, clear color choices and a face map that says what goes on every face. Get Custom Dice turns those files into a free mockup within 24 hours, so preparing them well means sharper dice and fewer revision rounds before production.
- Vector files such as AI, EPS, SVG or PDF give the cleanest marks on dice
- Compact icons and monograms read better than wide wordmarks on a die face
- A face map lists what goes on every face of each die design
- Free mockup within 24 hours, with unlimited free revisions
- Standard turnaround is about 2 weeks after approval
What artwork files does a custom dice order need?
A custom dice order works best with a vector logo file: AI, EPS, SVG or a vector PDF. Vector artwork keeps clean edges when Get Custom Dice scales a logo down to fit a small die face, and it lets the art team separate each color for engraving fill or printing. A sharp, high-resolution PNG is a workable fallback when no vector file exists.
The reason vector matters more on dice than on most products is scale. A logo that looks crisp on a banner is shrunk dramatically to sit on one face of a die, and any softness in a pixel file turns into fuzzy edges or filled-in counters. Vector paths also tell the engraver exactly where to cut and where color fill should sit, which is why engraved dice in particular benefit from proper source art.
If you only have a logo on your website or in an email signature, send it anyway along with a note. Get Custom Dice will review it during the free mockup, which comes back within 24 hours, and flag anything that will not hold up at die size.
- Best: the original vector file from your designer or brand kit
- Good: a vector PDF exported from your design software
- Workable: a large, sharp PNG on a transparent background
- Risky: screenshots, photos of printed material or small JPGs
How much of a logo actually fits on a die face?
Much less of a logo fits on a die face than most first-time buyers expect. A standard die face is a small square with rounded edges, so custom dice artwork should be built around a compact mark: an icon, monogram, short word or simple symbol. Full horizontal wordmarks, taglines and website addresses usually belong on the packaging, not the die.
Think of the usable area as a safe zone inside the face. The corners and edges of most dice are rounded or tumbled, so artwork that runs right to the border can lose its outer edge or look cramped. Keeping a clear margin around the mark makes it read as intentional and centered, even when the die is turned in the hand.
Stacked or square versions of a logo usually work better than wide ones because the face itself is square. If your brand guidelines include a badge, crest or app-style icon, start there. Get Custom Dice shows the mark at real proportions in the mockup, so you can judge legibility before anything is produced.
- Use the most compact approved version of your logo
- Drop taglines, legal marks and fine print where your brand rules allow
- Keep a clear margin away from rounded edges
- Choose bold letterforms over thin or script type
How does the marking method change the artwork you send?
The marking method decides how much detail custom dice artwork can carry and how colors are handled. Engraving with color fill favors bold, solid shapes; printing can handle a little more detail and multiple colors; laser engraving on wood or metal produces a tone-on-tone mark with no added ink. Choose the method first, then adapt the art to it.
Engraved dice are cut into the surface and then filled with paint, which gives a durable mark that survives heavy play. That fill needs room to sit in the recess, so hairlines and tiny gaps can close up. Printed dice place ink on the surface, which suits multi-color logos but makes contrast with the die body more important. Engraved wooden dice and metal dice rely on the material itself for the look, so the artwork is effectively one color.
| Method | Best artwork | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Engraved with color fill | Bold icons, solid shapes, simple type | Hairlines and tight gaps that fill in |
| Printed | Logos with a few flat colors | Low contrast against the die color |
| Engraved wood | Single-color marks, rustic or natural brands | Grain can soften very fine detail |
| Metal | Clean geometric logos and symbols | Reflective finishes reduce contrast |
Compare options on the engraved custom dice, custom printed dice, engraved wooden dice and metal dice sets pages.
How should you specify colors for custom dice artwork?
The clearest way to specify colors for custom dice artwork is to name the die body color and the marking color together, using Pantone references where you have them. Contrast between the two matters more than an exact shade, because a perfectly matched brand color that blends into the die body will be hard to read across a table.
Start with the die. Solid white, black and bold primary colors give the most predictable contrast. Translucent, swirl and glitter dice look striking but can compete with a logo, so pair them with an opaque, bright fill. Then choose the marking color: a light fill on a dark die or a dark fill on a light die is the reliable default.
Screens vary, so treat the mockup as a guide to placement and contrast rather than a perfect color sample. If an exact brand shade is critical, say so in your quote request so Get Custom Dice can talk you through the closest option for your chosen method.
- List the die body color and the marking color for each design
- Include Pantone references from your brand guide if you have them
- Favor strong light-on-dark or dark-on-light pairings
- Flag any color that must match existing packaging or merchandise
How do you lay out artwork for every face of the die?
Lay out custom dice artwork with a simple face map: a list or grid that says exactly what goes on each face. For a six-sided die, that usually means your logo on one face and standard pips or numbers on the rest, or a full set of custom symbols for a game. A clear face map is what turns your files into an accurate mockup.
The most common layout for promotional dice replaces one face with the logo and keeps standard pips elsewhere, so the dice still play normally. Game designers often replace every face with icons, resources or actions. Either way, write the face map down rather than describing it loosely in an email thread, and name each file so it matches the face it belongs to.
Polyhedral sets add a decision about which die carries the logo and on which face. The highest face of a twenty-sided die is a popular spot, but any face can carry a mark if the numbers stay readable. The six-sided vs. polyhedral guide covers how format affects layout.
- Pick the die format: six-sided, polyhedral set or giant foam
- List every face and what it shows: logo, pip, number or symbol
- Name each artwork file to match its face
- Note the orientation if a symbol has a clear top
- Add the die and marking colors next to each face
How do you check a custom dice proof before approving it?
Check a custom dice proof face by face against your face map, at real size, before you approve it. Get Custom Dice sends a free mockup within 24 hours and offers unlimited free revisions, and you pay nothing until you approve the design, so the proof stage is the cheapest place to catch problems with your custom dice.
Review the proof on a large screen, and ideally print it at actual size so you can see how small the mark really is. Ask someone who did not design the logo to read it; fresh eyes catch spelling errors and orientation issues faster. Once approved, production on standard orders takes about 2 weeks, so any change after approval costs time.
- Confirm every face matches the face map
- Read every word and number, including small ones
- Check symbol orientation and that nothing is mirrored
- Confirm the die color and marking color on each design
- Look at the margin around the logo on each face
- Check the quantity and color split on the order summary
- Approve only when every item above is right
If anything looks off, ask for a revision rather than hoping it will look better in production. Revisions are free and fast, while a reprint is neither.
What should you send with your artwork in the quote request?
Send your artwork files with a short brief: how the custom dice will be used, the die format, colors, marking method if you know it, quantity and the date you need them. Get Custom Dice uses that context to recommend the right method and prepare an accurate mockup the first time.
Use matters because the same logo might be engraved for a board game that gets heavy play, printed for a trade show giveaway, or laser engraved on wood for a gift. A one-line description of the audience lets the art team simplify or adjust your file in the right direction. If you are unsure about the method or format, say so; the mockup is the place to compare options.
- Vector logo file, or the best version you have
- Face map for every die design
- Die body color and marking color, with Pantone references if available
- Quantity and any color split
- Delivery date and shipping destination
When the brief is ready, submit it on the custom quote page, or read how it works to see each step from mockup to delivery. Larger runs are covered on the bulk custom dice with logo page.
Frequently asked questions
Can a logo copied from my website be used for custom dice?
A logo copied from a website can be used for custom dice as a starting point, but it is usually a small, low-resolution image. Get Custom Dice will review it during the free mockup and tell you whether the edges will stay clean at die size. If you can request the original vector file from your designer or brand kit, the finished marks will be sharper.
Should I convert text to outlines before sending custom dice artwork?
Converting text to outlines is a smart step before sending custom dice artwork from design software. Outlined text keeps your exact letterforms even if the art team does not have the same font installed, which prevents unexpected substitutions. Keep an editable copy for yourself, and send the outlined version with your quote request so the mockup matches your brand type exactly.
Can I give Pantone references for the marking color on custom dice?
Pantone references are helpful for custom dice because they give the art team a clear target for fill or ink color. Include them for both the marking and, where relevant, the die body. Get Custom Dice will confirm the closest achievable option for your chosen method, since contrast and legibility on a small face matter as much as an exact shade.
Can a photograph be reproduced on custom dice?
A photograph is rarely a good fit for custom dice because a small die face cannot hold fine tonal detail, and engraving reproduces shapes rather than shades. A simplified silhouette or line drawing based on the photo usually reads far better. Get Custom Dice can show a simplified version in the free mockup so you can compare before committing to a design.
Is a QR code practical on custom dice?
A QR code is rarely practical on custom dice because the face is too small for most phones to scan reliably, especially once edges are rounded and the mark is engraved or printed. A short brand name or icon on the die, with the QR code on a card or pouch in the packaging, usually works better and keeps the dice easy to read.
Can custom dice artwork wrap across an edge onto two faces?
Custom dice artwork should stay within each face rather than wrap across an edge. Die edges are rounded or tumbled, so a mark that crosses them tends to distort or break up. Design each face as its own self-contained panel, and if you want a connected look, use matching motifs on neighboring faces. Get Custom Dice will flag any wrap-around elements in the mockup.
Do I need permission to put a licensed character on custom dice?
Putting a licensed character, team mark or another brand's logo on custom dice requires permission from the rights holder. Only send artwork you own or are licensed to use for the intended purpose, especially if the dice will be sold. Get Custom Dice produces dice from the artwork customers supply, so confirming rights before you order avoids delays and problems later.
Can my logo and a number share the same face on custom dice?
A logo and a number can share a face on custom dice, but both elements must shrink to fit, which affects legibility. Many game designers place a small icon beside a bold number, or put the logo on the highest face of a polyhedral die. Get Custom Dice will show both elements at real size in the mockup so you can judge readability.
Can a multi-color logo be reproduced on custom dice?
A multi-color logo can be reproduced on custom dice, though printing handles several colors more easily than engraving with color fill. For engraved dice, a one-color version of the logo is often the cleaner choice. Get Custom Dice will recommend the best approach for your design and show it in the free mockup, which arrives within 24 hours of your request.
Can I see my custom dice artwork on more than one die color before choosing?
You can ask to see your custom dice artwork on more than one die color before choosing. Mention the colors you are considering in the quote request and Get Custom Dice can include those options in the mockup. Comparing side by side is the easiest way to spot which pairing gives your logo the strongest contrast, and revisions are free.
Who should review custom dice artwork before I approve it?
Custom dice artwork is best reviewed by at least one person who did not design it, plus whoever owns the brand guidelines. Fresh eyes catch spelling errors, mirrored symbols and weak contrast that a designer may no longer notice. Get Custom Dice sends the mockup within 24 hours, which leaves time to share it with colleagues or co-designers before you approve production.
Can I change custom dice artwork after the first mockup?
Changing custom dice artwork after the first mockup is normal and free. Get Custom Dice offers unlimited free revisions, so you can swap the logo version, adjust colors or rearrange faces until the design is right. You pay nothing until you approve the design, and production only begins after approval, so the mockup stage is the right time for changes.
Get a free mockup for your dice
Send your logo or idea and the quantity you have in mind. Get Custom Dice returns a free mockup within 24 hours, you approve the design before anything is produced, and standard turnaround is about two weeks with faster options available. Get a custom quote.