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Laser Engraving — raster vs vector, materials & product marking

Laser engraving puts a permanent, registered graphic onto acrylic, timber or anodised metal — clean, repeatable, and aligned on every part.

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Standard capability

Laser Engraving
Process
Laser engraving
Machines
Thunder Laser Nova 51 · Production Laser
Max sheet size
1220 × 2440 mm
Max cut thickness
12 mm

Job-specific details — yield, edge finish and lead time — are confirmed when we quote your file.

Cutting on the Gold Coast? Laser engraving on acrylic →

Browse the confirmed material list →

Laser Engraving

Engraving is where the CO2 laser quietly earns its keep. Permanent marks, registered exactly where you want them, repeatable across hundreds of parts. Signwriters use it for sign faces with a graphic on the surface. Awards shops use it for plaque text. Trade customers use it for asset tags, control-panel labels and product marking.

We run two flavours. Raster engraving paints the laser back and forth and gives you photographic-style detail — logos, headshots, fine artwork. Vector engraving traces a line at lower power and is faster for line art, text outlines and grid patterns. Most jobs are one or the other; some combine both in a single setup.

Materials sit in three buckets. Acrylic engraves to a frosted white finish that contrasts cleanly against clear or coloured stock — the classic awards look. Timber and plywood give a darker burnt-in mark with grain showing through, popular for rustic signage and craft pieces. Anodised aluminium and similar coated metals mark by removing the surface anodising layer, exposing the base metal underneath — clean, durable, and the basis of trade-grade product labelling.

For control panels and product runs, send a single master file with all variants on different layers and we'll batch the run. For one-offs, send the artwork in DXF, AI, SVG or PDF and tell us the substrate.

Good for

  • Sign faces with registered graphics that need to align with a cut outline
  • Awards, plaques, gift items, presentation pieces
  • Control-panel and product labelling on anodised metals
  • Asset tags, serial numbers, batch marks
  • Decorative work on acrylic or timber where the mark is the feature

Not for

  • Bare aluminium or stainless without an anodised or coated layer — laser won't mark it
  • Painted timber where the paint will scorch unpredictably
  • Curved or non-flat surfaces (jigging required, ask first)
  • Galvanised or zinc-coated metal — fume safety issue

Laser Engraving — common questions

Can you engrave a photo?
Yes — raster engraving handles photographic detail on acrylic and timber. Send the highest-resolution image you can; we convert to greyscale and tune the power for the substrate. Test prints available on request before committing to a run.
Will the engraving wear off?
No — it's a permanent change to the material surface, not a paint or ink. On anodised metals the mark exposes the base metal underneath and is rated for outdoor product labelling. On timber and acrylic the mark is the depth of the engraved channel.
What file types can I send?
DXF is the cleanest — that's a single-line vector format the cutter reads directly. AI, SVG, PDF, EPS and DWG all work too. If you've only got a JPG or a sketch on paper, send it anyway and we'll tidy it for you (small file-prep charge applies).
How should I prepare a DXF?
Outlines only, no fills. One closed path per cut. Different operations (cut, engrave, drill) on different layers so we know what gets which tool. Convert text to outlines before exporting so we don't have to chase the same font. If anything's ambiguous, write it in the file name or add a note in the quote request.
How quick is a quote?
Most quote requests reviewed within 1 business day. Simple trade jobs may be quoted faster during business hours (Mon–Fri 8am–4pm AEST). Complex, review-required, or unusual jobs may take longer. We'll tell you up front if so.
Can I pick up or do you deliver?
Both. Pickup is from Helensvale by appointment — we'll send the address when your job is ready. Local delivery covers the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Logan and Tweed Heads, quoted per job. Freight elsewhere in Australia on request.

Ready to quote laser engraving?

Quote back, usually within 1 business day. No card needed.

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