Laser Design Guide

Some of our tips and information to help us create the best Laser Etching Design for you!

  • What can I have Laser Etched onto a monument, vase, tile or other granite?
    • You can Laser virtually anything, from Text, Graphics, Logos, Designs, and even photographs. The only limit is your imagination!

  • I have a design in mind, but can't find anything that matches exactly what I want.
    • We work with several dedicated designers, including our in-house designer that can help bring your ideas to life. Many of the designs featured in our Laser Design Book were created out of the needs of our customers. Reach out to our in-house laser designer using the contact information at the bottom of this page for a free consultation.

  • I am trying to decide on a photo to use for a monument, how do I choose the best photo?
    • Choosing a photo to put on a stone for a loved one is tricky as many photos bring up precious memories. Choosing one for your own stone can be even harder, especially if you tend to not like photos of yourself. Choose a photo that means a lot to you and really represents the person the stone is for. It's also a good idea to choose a photo that is clear and sharp with lots of contrast and clarity as they will tend to come out better on the stone. Professionally done photographs like headshots or family photos are best as they tend to be high resolution, allowing our designers and technicians to edit the photo to the correct size without compromising quality.

      • IF YOU CAN'T DECIDE OR HAVE A COUPLE OPTIONS YOU LIKE, FEEL FREE TO SEND MULTIPLE PHOTOS AND LET OUR DESIGNERS TELL YOU WHICH ONE WILL WORK BEST OR PROVIDE YOU MOCKUPS FOR CAMPARISON WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHICH IS BEST TO USE.

  • I have a photo on my phone, will that work?
    • Absolutely, with most people taking all of their photos on their phones, it is super common for individuals to want to use a photo they've captured on their phone for laser etching. Try to make sure the photo had good contrast and is very clear. Also make sure that the photo gets sent to use in the highest possible format/resolution. Often, we will ask clients to send us the photo so that we can look at it and we will let you know if it will laser well.

  • I have a photo of a photo, will that work?
    • This can be a little bit tricky. It partly depends on the quality of the photo you took, while we prefer original photos, sometimes that is not possible. Again, just reach out to our in-house designer below and we can take a look at the photo you are wanting to use and give you an honest opinion about how well it will laser.

  • I have a photo that has been edited/enhanced/altered/photoshopped already, is that better?
    • This is also tricky. Photo editing often does to enhance and image or change the background for print or general viewing isn't always a better quality for laser engraving. We always recommend providing us with the Original Photo and allowing our designers to edit as needed to ensure best quality engraving. If you have a previous edited or touched up photo, feel free to provide it to us, but we also recommend that you send the original unedited photo along with it.

  • Do I need to bring in or mail the photo?
    • You absolutely can, especially if all you have is a print of the photo. You can however scan the photo and e-mail or text it to us. The most important thing is preserving the resolution of the photo. Ensuring that the file we get is an original raw format or high-resolution file will help us to create a beautiful etching. Click here to download our instruction page on best ways to send your photo to ensure we get the best possible resolution.

  • Do you have more designs or places I can go to look for designs?
    • We are constantly working on new designs and will try to upload them to the site as we go. However, once you have an initial consultation with our designer, we can help steer you in the right direction. There are several places we can pull designs from in addition to having them drawn up by one of our artists. There are also a number of sites we use where you can find designs from other artists and purchase them for use on the stone. Based on the initial consultation and your needs we will help guide you in the right direction.

  • If I add a laser design to my monuments or memorial gift, does it have to all be lasered (I like the deep cut lettering on some of the stones)?
    • We mix and match styles all of the time. Some clients prefer the stone to be completely laser etched, some clients only laser a photo, some clients laser parts of the stone and traditionally engrave other sections. It all comes down to personal preference and best option based on the final stone design. We will help guide you as to best option based on the design of the stone.

  • What about a different color stone?
    • For laser etching photographs or highly detailed designs we encourage you to go with a jet-black stone. Jet Black granite tends to create a high contrast when lasered and generally produces the best results for photographs. However, we have laser etched designs onto other granite colors. The granite will need to be a darker color that has a stark contrast between the polished and unpolished sections of the granite. We don't recommend photographs, especially of people on colors other than jet black as the final product can be hard to predict and is subject to the variations in the actual piece of granite. We have done etchings on greens, various blacks, reds, and even blues with some great results, It all just depends on what it is that we are laser etching and what you want the final design to look like.

  • What about color Laser Etching?
    • You may have seen a color laser etching in the cemetery or while browsing online. It is possible for us to add color to laser etched designs. In house we have a handful of colors we can add, typically metallic colors like gold, silver, and rose gold, we even have a blue turquoise that can be added. For full color laser designs or photographs, these can be done. Essentially, once the stone has been lasered, it is sent off to an artist and hand-painted using paints/dye specifically made for stone. These soak into the unpolished stone and then are sealed. It is important to note that color added to a laser or sand etched design can/will fade over time, how fast really depends on weather, outside conditions, and the elements. While it is hard to predict how the color will age, we have seen/done a number of color etchings that have held up remarkably! Even if they do start to fade, the faded the design will start to resemble a more traditional design without color and still look beautiful. So, yes it can be done, but you are essentially commissioning a painting and then placing it outdoors, so just be aware that there is often significant cost, and we cannot guarantee how long it will last (although it will take quite some time for it to fade).

  • Will it Last?
    • Probably one of the most common questions we get about Laser Etching, will it last? Is it as durable as more traditional engraving on monuments? AND THE ANSWER IS YES...Laser engraving is doing the same thing as your more traditional engraving which is cutting into the polish of the stone to reveal the natural stone underneath. It will not fade or wear away like you may have seen with older/softer stone materials, which is why we love granite. So have no fear, if you decide to have some or all of your stone laser engraved it will be built to last ensuring your loved ones legacy lives on for a long time!