How to Engrave a Photo

Hi everyone, this is ken from Thunderlaser photo engrave. In this lesson, we are going to learn RDworks how to engrave a photo.

Let’s load a photo first. Click import button and select a photo.

Then click open. Now we can set the size of the photo and then click “BMP” button.
Then tick “set output resolution” and input the resolution as 1000. It is suggested to set the resolution between 1000 and 1500.

Then click “Dither” and choose “Net graphic” and set the Frequency as 30.

Then click “Apply to view” and enlarge the photo to check the detail. We can see the dot size is too big.

Now we can change the frequency to 50. The quality is much better now. Usually, it’s suggested to set the frequency between 50 and 70. If we need to engrave transparent materials like acrylic, we should tick the “invert color”.

How to choose right Image

1.High-Quality Images: Choose high-resolution images with good contrast. Low-quality images may not capture details well during engraving.

2.Image Editing Software: Use image editing software (such as Adobe Photoshop or GIMP) to edit your image. Adjust the contrast, brightness, and sharpness to enhance details.

3.Grayscale Images: Convert the image to grayscale (black and white). Laser engravers typically use grayscale levels to adjust engraving depth.

4.Image Size: Resize the image according to the size of the material you are engraving on. Ensure the image resolution matches the settings of the engraver (typically 300-600 DPI).

Laser Engraver Settings

1.Focus Adjustment: Ensure the laser head is properly focused to achieve the best engraving results. Incorrect focus can lead to blurry or unclear images.

2.Power and Speed: Set the appropriate laser power and engraving speed based on the material. Generally, lower power and slower speed provide better detail.

3.DPI Settings: Set an appropriate DPI (dots per inch), usually between 300-600 DPI. Higher DPI provides more detail but also increases engraving time.