Personalisation
Laser engraving on wood, leather, acrylic and stone
COOLASER, a laser workshop in Italy, in Gaeta (LT), carries out laser engraving on wood, leather, acrylic (Plexiglas), stone and slate, and photo engraving on wood from a photograph. It engraves chopping boards, boxes, wallets, coasters, plaques and gifts for companies, hospitality businesses and private individuals, from one-off pieces to series. The price is requested with the online request form.
Wood laser engraving: what it is and when it is needed
Laser engraving on wood removes the surface layer in a controlled way and leaves text, logos and designs darker than the wood, without inks and without contact tools. The contrast depends on the species: on light, even-grained woods the mark stands out more, on dark woods it stays more discreet. It is used for chopping boards and kitchen utensils, boxes, signs and menus, promotional items and gifts.
COOLASER works with four laser sources: COâ‚‚, diode, fibre (MOPA included) and UV, and chooses the source according to the material. The same pieces can be engraved and cut: cutting of wood, leather and acrylic is described on the page on wood and acrylic laser cutting. Engraved wood, leather and stone are among the workshop's laser-engraved personalised items.
Photo engraving on wood
Photo engraving on wood is the laser engraving of a photograph: the image is converted into dots and the laser reproduces highlights and shadows with lighter or darker tones. It is used for portraits, family photos, pets and places, on wooden panels, frames, boxes and chopping boards. The result depends on the photo and the wood: a sharp, high-contrast image and a light, even wood give more detail.
Leather laser engraving
Laser engraving on leather darkens the surface and leaves a tone-on-tone mark, similar to hot branding, with no added colour. Wallets, diaries, document holders, cases, keyrings and covers are engraved with initials, logos or phrases, on finished items or on sheets of natural leather. Faux leather is engraved too, after its composition has been checked.
Acrylic laser engraving
Laser engraving on acrylic (PMMA) leaves a frosted white mark that stands out on clear and solid colours. On a clear sheet the back can be engraved, so the lettering is read from the front, protected by the thickness. It is used for plaques, signs, awards and indoor signage, with the outline cut to size and the graphics engraved on the same piece. Signs and acrylic display stands have a dedicated page.
Stone and slate laser engraving
Laser engraving on stone and slate lightens the surface: on dark slate the mark turns light grey and is highly legible. Slate coasters, boards and serving plates, plaques, pebbles and polished stones are engraved. Personalisation for venues is gathered on the page on personalisation for restaurants and hotels.
Materials
The materials for laser engraving on wood, leather, acrylic and stone are:
- Wood: solid wood, plywood and MDF.
- Cork and cardboard: coasters, packaging and boxes.
- Leather and faux leather: natural leather and faux leather, with the composition checked before engraving.
- Plexiglas (PMMA) and acrylic: clear or coloured.
- Stone and slate: natural slate, pebbles and polished stones.
The material can be supplied by COOLASER, or the customer ships it to the workshop.
Sizes and limits
The limits of laser engraving on wood, leather, acrylic and stone depend on the size and height of the item.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engraving area | up to 915 × 458 mm |
| Item height | up to 220 mm |
| Quantity | no fixed minimum quantity: from a one-off to a series, with variable data too |
| Lead time | standard, urgent or by a set date, chosen in the form |
How it works
An engraving on wood, leather, acrylic or stone is ordered in four steps:
- Request: the form states material, item, number of pieces, text or graphic and lead time.
- Quote: the workshop assesses the material and the result and prepares the price.
- Engraving: text, position and size are agreed first; then the piece is engraved, made in Italy, in the COOLASER workshop.
- Delivery: shipping throughout Italy and abroad or, on request, collection from the workshop.
What to prepare
A quote for engraving on wood, leather, acrylic or stone needs the material, the item or its dimensions, the number of pieces and the text or logo. Logos come out best from a vector file (SVG, AI, EPS or PDF); photo engraving needs a sharp photo in JPG, PNG, WEBP or HEIC, even one taken with a phone. The form accepts up to 10 files, 20 MB each and 30 MB in total; without files, dimensions and a description are enough.
Frequently asked questions
Which wood can be laser engraved?
Laser engraving works on solid wood, plywood and MDF, and also on cork; on light, even-grained woods the dark mark stands out more. Painted or treated woods can give a different result.
Can a photo be engraved on wood?
Yes, photo engraving on wood reproduces a photograph with lighter and darker dots. A sharp, high-contrast photo and a light wood give more detail.
Can leather be laser engraved?
Yes, the laser engraves leather with a dark, tone-on-tone mark, similar to hot branding. Faux leather can also be engraved, once its composition has been checked, on wallets, diaries, cases, keyrings and covers.
What does laser engraving look like on acrylic?
On acrylic (Plexiglas), laser engraving leaves a frosted white mark that stands out on clear sheet and on solid colours. On clear sheets the back can be engraved, so the lettering reads from the front.
Can slate be laser engraved?
Yes, on slate the laser leaves a light mark on a dark background, which is very legible. Coasters, chopping boards, serving plates and plaques are engraved.