Color Laser Engraving:
Enhance Your Creativity
Aren’t you bored of getting the same black color after laser engraving? Wouldn’t it be exciting to have some vivid colors?
Color laser engraving is possible, and it allows you to get various colors that make your object more appealing. However, it cannot be done on all materials.
In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about color laser engraving. We will explain how it is done, which materials can be color laser engraved, and which laser engraving machine is the best for this purpose.
In This Article
- What is Color Laser Engraving?
- How Does Color Laser Engraving Work?
- What Materials Can You Add Color to with Laser Engraving?
- Best Color Laser Engraver
- Conclusion
What is Color Laser Engraving?
When you laser engrave wood or other materials, the engraved parts appear to be black or gray.
Color laser engraving is just the opposite of that. It means that the surface of the material that you engrave offers you vivid colors. It could be blue, green, pink, yellow, or anything else rather than the traditional color of laser engraving. It makes the material or objects more attractive, opening up a massive opportunity for business owners to create more attractive and unique products using a laser engraving machine.
How Does Color Laser Engraving Work?
Color laser engraving works on different methods and principles, depending on the material. But there are two basic principles. Either the color engraving is achieved naturally with the help of oxidation, or you need a coloring agent to get the desired color.
When color engraving on metal or stone, the surface of the material is turned into a molten form. During the melting process, oxidation also occurs. The surface of the metal oxidizes due to the high temperature and reaction with oxygen. The melted material solidifies again soon, but due to oxidation, a special-colored layer is created on the metal, which looks like colored engraving.
But keep in mind that you won’t get colors with all laser engravers. It depends on the power of the laser as well as the type of metal or stone. Different laser power settings result in different levels of oxidation, which produces different colors. Therefore, you see vibrant colors on the engraved surface rather than the normal engraving color.
RELATED: Guide to Color Laser Engraving Settings
With materials such as glass, and ceramics, you can't naturally color engrave like you can with metal or stone. However, you can still use color agents such as colored laser marking paper for their color engraving. The best part about this is that you can select the desired color agent to get the desired color.
What Materials Can You Add Color to with Laser Engraving?
We have already discussed that you can add color to metals and stones through oxidation during laser engraving. Let’s have a look at what types of laser engraver you need to pick for their color laser engraving.
1. Color Laser Engraving on Metal
You can color laser engrave stainless steel, titanium, and other metals. These can be colored engraved directly without the need for a coloring agent.
Mostly, fiber laser engravers are used for engraving metals because they are specially made for metal marking. But you can also use a diode laser or an infrared laser engraver for color engraving metal.
XTOOL F1
Dual Diode and Infrared Laser Engraver
With its dual laser setup, f1 can do color engraving on metal, slates, ceramics, etc.
Learn More2. Color Laser Engraving on Slate
Slate, a natural stone known for its durability and unique texture, is an excellent material for color laser engraving. Its dark, earthy tones provide a striking backdrop for vibrant, full-color designs.
You can use a diode, CO2 or fiber laser to engrave slates with color.
3. Color Laser Engraving on Glass and Ceramics
As we already discussed, you need a coloring agent for color laser engraving on materials such as glass and ceramics.
Color engraving on these materials can be done using a diode or CO2 laser.
Best Color Laser Engraver
If you’re looking for a portable laser engraver – something that can be carried to local craft fairs or farmer markets – xTool F1 is the ideal choice. Its lightweight, handheld design makes it extremely convenient for engraving on the go.
For color laser engraving, especially on metal, infrared diodes are recommended. It features a 10W diode laser for engraving common materials like wood, leather, and stone, alongside a 2W 1064nm Infrared laser specifically for metal engraving.
The capabilities of the F1 don't stop there. It is the fastest diode laser engraver available, with engraving speeds of up to 4000mm/s. Such speeds are seen in industrial fiber lasers. But we have incorporated this capability into a compact machine through galvo technology.
This technology not only enhances speed but also dramatically improves accuracy. F1 offers Ultra HD prints with a precision of 0.00199mm.
Being compact, the F1 features a mini-bed size of 115*115mm, expandable up to 400mm with a slide extension. This area is sufficient for color engraving on metallic accessories like business cards, jewelry, key chains, and pet tags. Additionally, rotary engraving is supported with a separate RA2 Pro rotary attachment.
Ease of use is a key feature of the F1, thanks to our user-friendly XCS software. You can import various types of files and even create designs with our AI feature. An added bonus is the real-time blue light preview, which shows you how your design will look like before you start engraving.
The machine is built for both indoor and outdoor use with safety in mind. Its enclosed design and laser-filtering lid protect against fumes and laser rays, while a built-in fan efficiently exhausts smoke outdoors.
Conclusion
Color laser engraving can take your creativity to the next level. It allows you to make unique and extraordinary products. You can color engrave on metals and slates, and we have discussed the process behind it. It is good to have a laser machine that can color engrave items, and we recommend xTool F1. Their powerful laser modules offer 340+ colors in metal engraving and allows you to cut and engrave a wide range of other materials as well. They're incredible machines for beginners, small businesses, professionals, and almost everyone who wants a compact laser machine.
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