Laser Engraving vs Etching vs Marking: What’s the Difference and How They Appear on Different Materials
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Laser Engraving, Etching & Marking – What’s the Difference and What Do They Look Like?
If you're considering laser customization-whether for business cards, signs, tools, or gifts-you’ve probably come across terms like engraving, etching, and marking. While they all use laser technology, the way they interact with materials-and the results they leave-are very different.
Let’s break it down:
1. Laser Engraving
What it is:
Laser engraving physically removes material to create a deep, permanent cavity. The result is tactile- you can feel the depth when you run your fingers over it.
Best for: Metal | Wood | Acrylic | Glass | Leather
Finish & Colour Effects:
Stainless Steel: Silver, dark grey, or black (can sometimes achieve gold or rainbow hues with special settings).
Anodized Aluminium: The colour coating is removed, revealing bright silver beneath.
Wood: Dark brown to black burns, depending on the type of wood.
Acrylic: Clean white or clear frosty look.
Glass: Frosted white marks.
2. Laser Etching
What it is:
Etching is a type of engraving, but it’s much shallower. It melts the surface without cutting deeply into the material. Great for delicate or coated items.
Best for: Coated metals | Plastics | Ceramics | Glass
Finish & Colour Effects:
Coated Metal (like anodised aluminium): The top layer is vaporised, revealing contrasting colour underneath.
Plastic: Often leaves a grey, white, or dark mark depending on laser settings.
Glass: Leaves a frosted white, slightly rough texture.
3. Laser Marking
What it is:
Marking changes the surface colour without cutting or removing material. It’s mostly used on metals and plastics and is ideal for barcodes, serial numbers, or branding.
Best for: Stainless Steel | Titanium | Plastics |
Finish & Colour Effects:
Stainless Steel: Can produce black, dark grey, white, gold, or rainbow/oxide colours depending on power, speed, and frequency.
Plastic: Usually results in black, grey or white marks.
Titanium: Achieves vivid blue, purple, bronze, and gold tones (great for luxury finishes).
So, Which One Should You Choose?
If you want depth and durability, go for engraving.
If you want fine detail on delicate or coated items, choose etching.
If you want a permanent colour change without damaging the surface, laser marking is ideal.
Final Thoughts
At TouchTag LaserWorks we use different types of lasers (fibre and CO₂) to get the perfect finish based on your material and design. Whether you want a deep black engrave on metal, a frosted etch on acrylic, or a vibrant mark on stainless steel- we’ve got you covered.
Need help deciding which method works best for your project? Contact us today!