Can we engrave color? This is a question that is asked a lot, and sometimes it is simply assumed that we can do color signs. Unfortunately at this time, we do not have any way to add color to our engravings. Here’s why - we do laser engraving, which is the technique of creating a design that is all black and white - no color. Even if sometimes an image is in color, we do the job of deciding which parts of the image should be black and which parts should be white (colorless). This is not always an easy job but it is a job that just be done otherwise the image would end up being a big blob of nothing.
So, why is it that we cannot do color? Because with laser engraving you have a laser that is very powerful that burns material. In our case we mainly do wood and leather engraving. So what is going on is a laser is either (1. Burning) or (2. Not burning). When the laser is on and burning that would create solid black as the laser burns the material. When the laser is not burning it will leave the (white) blank parts of the image. Since as of now there is no way to burn in color, that is why we are only able to do black and white style images.
Sometimes we are able to take more complex images and run them in a dithered style image, which is thousands of tiny dots spaced close it further apart to create the illusion of an image with color or grey scale, even though it is only a bunch of black burned spots in the wood.
As always, if you have any questions about an idea you have or an image you have, we are always willing to check it out before you place your order so we can let you know if it will work or if there are adjustments that need to be made.
