Think "laser," and what comes to mind? Whether etching onto metal, wood, or acrylic, the result is often limited to stark black or white markings. What if you could add a vibrant splash of color to transform those creations?
This blog dives deep into the fascinating world of color laser engraving. We'll demystify the process behind achieving stunning, permanent color effects with a laser and showcase the impressive results you can achieve. See how color laser engraving can elevate your projects from functional to truly spectacular.
Before formally introducing the steps of color engraving, we first need to understand what color engraving is. Color laser engraving is a technique that adds different colors to an engraved surface. It works using different methods and principles depending on the material. But there are two basic principles. Either naturally achieve color engraving with the help of oxidation, or you need colorants to obtain the desired color.
However, it's crucial to understand: not all lasers are created equal for this task, and not every material readily accepts color. Not every laser engraving machine is a color laser engraver, and not all materials are suited for laser engraving with color. We'll clarify exactly what you need – the right color laser engraving machine and compatible materials – to make color laser engraving on metal and other surfaces a brilliant success.
Two typical materials for color laser engraving are metal (stainless steel and titanium) and hard plastic (less common). By adjusting the laser's pulse width, frequency, power, and speed, metal can be colored in multiple ways.
For metal, the heat from a high-power fiber laser may cause an oxidation reaction, producing a colored oxide layer. This layer reflects light in different ways to create a color spectrum. The thickness of this oxide layer determines which wavelengths of light are reflected back to our eyes, resulting in different perceived colors.
Color laser engraving on metal is primarily achieved through two methods:
To prevent laser damage to the color laser engraving machine’s work area, place a cutting panel or other laser-inert material horizontally before engraving.
After installing LightBurn and connecting to the device:
Click "Settings" → Set fixed parameters as shown.
| Features | RAYCUS | JPT | IPG-YLP | IPG-YLPM |
| Keys | Cost-effective, Stable and durable | Adjustable pluse width, color laser engraving | Faster and deeper laser engraving | Superior MOPA, flexible pluse width |
| Color laser engraving | × | √√√ | × | √√√ |
| Precise engraving | √ | √√ | √ | √√√ |
| Deep engraving | √√ | √√ | √√√ | √√√ |
| Lifespan | 70,000 - 80,000 h | 70,000 h | 100,000 h | 100,000 h |
| Price | $2,000 - $2,800 | $2,800 - $3,500 | $4,000 - $5,000 | $4,500 - $6,000 |
| Usage | Common metal laser engraving | Color laser engraving on metal | Fast and deep engraving | Precise and color laser engraving |
Material Test Engraving (if limited material):
Engrave a minimized graphic (e.g., 5mm×5mm) to observe color.
Adjust parameters interactively: speed, pulse width, frequency, and power
Generally recommended for stainless steel color laser engraving: high frequency, small pulse width, low power. This enables rich color variations and fine textures.
After setting parameters:
Use LightBurn’s "Material Test" tool:
The initial interface is as shown. Set variable parameters for the X-axis and Y-axis, plus engraving area size. Frequency and pulse width are the two primary factors affecting color laser engraving, so assign them to the X-axis and Y-axis.
The maximum/minimum values for frequency and pulse width depend on your desired test range. To test maximum color variations:
Ensure integer values for each axis segment to simplify parameter setting.
Fixed parameters power and speed must be set:
Finally, click "Enable Text" to engrave corresponding parameters for observation.
Notes:
Results with above parameters (as shown): Power: 30%, Speed: 1500 mm/s.
For detailed testing:
After completing parameter settings:
For color laser engraving, metal (e.g., stainless steel) is recommended to avoid complications like toxic gas emission (plastics) or charring (wood).
Color laser engraving will bring new surprises and challenges to your laser engraving journey. It can unlock new dimensions for your creations, but also introduces additional considerations during the engraving process. Attention must be paid to:
Ultimately, learning color laser engraving is a rewarding process. We recommend using the EM-Smart MOPA – while color laser engraving is its defining feature, it also delivers exceptional performance in daily applications like precision engraving, deep engraving, and cutting.
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