Laser wood engraving is extremely detailed and intricate art burned into wood using lasers. Laser wood engraving is a specialized type of woodburning that results in beautiful pictures with a great deal of definition and depth. While most people simply order their laser wood engravings because the creative process can be difficult, you can learn to engrave with lasers as long as you understand the technology.
Function
Laser wood engraving is almost always a creative and recreational art form. A computer program uses an image that has been scanned into the computer to guide the laser software and create the image on the piece of wood. The laser vaporizes part of the wood as it burns it to create greater depth in the picture.
Features
Laser wood engravings can be very large or small, depending on your mechanical capabilities. Most laser wood engravings are limited only by the size of the piece of wood that can be fed through the engraving machine. The wood that is being engraved also needs to be pretreated to prevent it from being damaged by residue from the engraving process.
Types
There are several types of laser engraving available to most people. You can send in an image and a piece of wood to an engraving company. The company will handle the process for you and return your image, along with the wood piece that now bears the image. You can also order laser wood engravings with preset images on them, such as cats, birds or outdoor scenes. Finally, you can purchase laser engraving equipment of your own so that you can scan and create the engravings. However, it is still not a very "hands-on" hobby, such as woodburning would be, because the process is handled by computer software.
Time Frame
Laser wood engraving takes several days from start to finish. Once you have selected a piece of wood to engrave, it must be sanded smooth and then finished with wood sealant or clear lacquer. After the finish is dry, the wood is ready to be engraved. Depending on the complexity of the design, this can take one to several hours. After this, the entire piece must be cleaned to remove the smoky residue created by the laser engraving process. The turnaround time on ordered, custom items is usually three to four days.
Benefits
Laser wood engravings are special gifts. They are a great way to memorialize personal photos as timeless pieces of art. They also are not particularly expensive, and you can get custom laser wood engravings starting at about $10 for small, simple pieces.
Misconceptions
Many people think that laser wood engraving is just another form of woodburning, a craft that many people learn as children and then go on to enjoy for many years. However, laser wood engraving is very unlike woodburning and cannot be done in a similar manner because the lasers must be guided by computer software. If you are interested in learning laser wood engraving, you will need to learn as much about technology as about wood and drawing.
