How to Make Laser Engraving Darker

Laser engraving is a now trendy option for personalizing everything – fabrics, paper, wood, leather, metals, and more.

Engraving actually removes a top layer exposing the surface. The contrast of engraving is due to the burning effect of the laser and the texture of the underlying surface. However, in some materials, like wood, leather, and metal, people often complain about engravings being less prominent. 

Facing a similar issue? Wondering how to make laser engraving darker? This blog shares practical tips to enhance contrast and achieve more laser engravings.

How to Darken Laser Engraving on Wood?

Wood is one of the main materials where engraving contrast is a common issue. Due to poor wood selection and incorrect parameter settings, many end up with lighter, less prominent engravings.

Choose Wood Wisely

Wood selection needs to be done based on its color, grain pattern, and resin content. Ideally, the best wood for laser engraving is one with less resin, straighter grains that aren’t overly highlighted, and lighter hues. Since lighter-colored wood offers greater contrast, engravings naturally appear darker. Basswood, pine, balsa, and birch are great options.

Pre-Treat Wood with Borax

If you want your engravings to be even darker, applying borax before engraving can help. Borax has long been used to protect wood from pests, and crafters have found that wood treated with a borax solution yields darker engravings—the stronger the solution, the darker the result.

Before engraving, prepare a 2–3% borax solution and apply it to the wood. Let it sit for about 30 minutes, and then engrave the wood. Afterward, seal the wood with a clear coating to make the darker engravings last longer. 

In some countries like the UK, borax sale is restricted to consumers due to its toxicity. Woodworkers suggest caustic soda as an alternative. 

Optimize Power Settings

The laser’s intensity is measured by its power. Higher power typically leads to a greater burning effect and more prominent engravings. A common recommendation is using low speed with higher power to achieve darker engraving results. However, this also increases the engraving depth, which may not be suitable for thinner sheets.

Change Focus

Appropriate focus is key to sharper, pinpoint engravings. However, if you need them darker, slightly defocusing the laser may help.

When you move the laser head away from the surface, the spot size increases, spreading the power and causing more burning, which results in a darker engraving.

Masking the Wood

Staining wood after engraving can be difficult because the wood may absorb the stain unevenly. Instead, you can mask the wood with tape and engrave right through the masking. Then, apply spray paint so that it seeps into the engraved areas. Finally, remove the masking.

How to Darken Laser Engraving on Metal?

Metals are very selective with lasers and often it’s hard to achieve darker and deeper metal engravings. Here are a few methods you can try:

User Laser Marking Spray

Most metals don’t readily absorb diode or CO₂ lasers. Applying a marking spray (which can be washed off later), provides a surface for the laser to react with, resulting in a darker (often black) engraving.

Focus and Power

Make sure the laser is properly focused and positioned very close to the metal. High power combined with moderate speed and a higher lines-per-centimeter setting usually gives darker results.

Stain Metal Post Engraving

After engraving, you can apply a darkening agent or paint. Rub it onto the metal so the recessed areas catch the color, then wipe the rest of the surface clean. This helps the engraved portions stand out more prominently.

How to Darken Laser Engraving on Leather?

Leather, like wood, comes in different types and hues. Normally, engraving exposes the underlying surface, which may be lighter than the top layer if it is dyed or stained during production.

However, sometimes the engraved areas don’t stand out enough (in the case of natural leather). In such cases, you can try the following tips.

Apply Leather Resist and Stain

After engraving leather, coat the entire piece with a leather resist or sealant. This protects the leather and adds a layer of finish. If you still want more prominence, apply a dark brown paste or stain to the engraved sections, then wipe it off from the rest of the surface.

Conclusion

We have shared some proven strategies for achieving darker laser engravings. Give these methods a try. And if you have successful tips on your end, be sure to share them with us in our Facebook group.