Guide 2024: How to Make a Laser
Engraving Black on Marble
Learn how to make a laser engraving black on marble and achieve a professional level when it comes to accuracy and intricate designs.
Marble – a timeless and exquisite art engraving material effortlessly adorns the decorations achieved with the applications of lasers. While the conventional etching of a laser is already quite in demand and is becoming an industry standard, many wonder how to make a laser engraving black on marble which is specific to certain use cases.
- Making Laser Engraving “Black”
- But How to Make a Laser Engraving Black on Marble?
- Common Mistakes and Tips
- Conclusion
Making Laser Engraving “Black”
Before we get into the question of how to make a laser engraving black on marble, learning what is happening when it comes to the “black” of laser engraving is very important. First, laser engraving vaporizes and removes the area that is being engraved. The carved surface is usually what appears after this operation is done and the color depends on the material of the surface.
But How to Make a Laser Engraving Black on Marble?
With that being said, marble, which remains a highly used material for such laser operation comes in different colors as well. So, to make the carvings darker, one can use darker marbles or can go with a stone color filler which can fill in the carvings with black color no matter which marble color you are dealing with. Lets go one by one:
1. Using a Black Marble:
Since marbles with light colors are harder to deal with when trying to achieve the black look of engravings, using black marble or dark gray variants of marble can give you a dark look of cuts made on the surface. These include 1. Black Marquina Marble, 2. Nero Portoro Marble, 3. Belgian Black Marble, Black Calacatta Marble, and graphite marble.
2. Using a Stone Color Filler:
Use of the coherent radiation for engraving does not end up with modifying the workpiece. This is a major advantage of the working method concerning the artwork. The blackening of the laser-marked elements is done in the dye inlay technology of the distressed coloring of the stone’s surface. You can go with different materials when it comes to such fillers, these are stone color fill wax, acrylic paints, epoxy resin fillers, stone-enhancing sealers, and various oil-based fillers.
Using sealants is a great way to enhance the look of these black fillers. You can go with Permatex Rust Treatment, 2. Rust-Oleum, Penetrol Oil-Based Metal Sealer, and Boeshield T-9 for this purpose. Some of them are expensive while others are quite commonly available.
Another great way to get this black effect is by using the invert technique on your laser engraver software; If this software has the option, simply invert the engraving within its interface so that the background of your design is etched on the marble instead of the foreground. The untouched, darker parts of the marble’s surface will remain black, while the engraved portions will create the necessary contrast required to make them obvious.
Common Mistakes and Tips
Now you know how to make a laser engraving black on marble and achieve more contrasting results but be sure to always keep below points on your checklist:
1. Before using the sealant in the engraved area, always wipe off debris and clean it properly to get that smooth black effect.
2. To avoid streaking, uneven coverage, and drips, apply your sealant in multiple thin coats rather than one thick layer. This will also make sure that you don’t accidentally permanently damage the look of your engraved marble.
3. Always test the sealant with your selected type of marble. For this, we recommend to start the application on a small, inconspicuous part of the steel surface or a scrap piece of marble. You will get a preview of the final finish (matte, glossy, etc.) before applying it to the entire surface of your marble.
4. Smooth engravings are needed for a professional-looking blacked-out DIY work on your marble. For that, capable laser hardware is recommended, like the Ortur LM3 laser cutter and engraver. Designed with a focus on similar projects, it comes with an ultra-accurate laser module for accurate engravings on materials like marble. You also get an air-assist system with an included 50L air pump to reduce burn marks by 50% and support for a wide range of accessories to expand your creative possibilities.
5. In the above-mentioned marble types, we recommend using Belgian Black marble for such DIY operations as this stone is known for its smooth finish and achieves a strong contrast. You will see it being used for high-end interior design and art.
Conclusion
Before we conclude our take on the query of “how to make a laser engraving black on marble,” it is worth mentioning that the choice of laser hardware will greatly impact the final engraving results on the marble. Moreover, the choice of sealant according to the kind of marble being used is also crucial.
