Determining the right resolution can have a massive effect on your overall engraving result. The material used, the graphic content and the processing time all play a very important role in laser processing.
Your Chosen Material & Graphic Content
Laser engraving result at 125 dpi
Laser engraving result at 250 dpi
Laser engraving result at 333 dpi
Laser engraving result at 500 dpi
Laser engraving result at 600 dpi
Laser engraving result at 1000 dpi
Material Impact
Materials absorb energy during laser engraving. Due to the rapidly increasing heat, the laser marked dots become larger until they overlap ('dot bleed'). This is a very important aspect of photo engraving, and needs to be carefully considered. To counter this effect, having the correct resolution is crucial.
Material
Preferred Resolution
wood, glass, textile, stone
lower resolutions: 125, 250, 333dpi
acrylic, TroLase materials, paper, cardboard
moderate resolutions: 500 - 600dpi
stamps, metal, processing with fiber lasers
higher resolutions: 600 - 1000dpi
Graphic Content
Depending on the level of detail in your chosen graphic, we suggest increasing the resolution to about 600dpi, despite the 'dot bleed' that we outlined above. This will allow even the finest of details to be perfectly and optimally engraved.
The Time Factor
The higher the resolution, the more time you'll need to complete the laser engraving job. If you choose a different resolution, you may be able to save some overall engraving time. For example, with large scale engravings, we suggest choosing a lower resolution and compensate for the resulting line spacing with a higher z-offset value instead.
Consistent Results - ¼ of the Original Processing Time
Have a look at our example of how you can engrave the exact same graphic at 500dpi with the same results at 125dpi in just ¼ of the time:
Speedy 360 80W - P=65%, V=50%
Resolution
125dpi
250dpi
333dpi
500dpi
Z-Offset
+12mm
+12mm
+9mm
+6mm
Time [h]
1.52
3.31
4.28
6.47
Laser engraving with different resolutions
Laser engraving rubber text plates
EXCEPT FOR: Laser Engraving Rubber Stamps:
In the case of rubber stamps, a higher resolution can increase the energy density during engraving. If a stamp is engraved at 500dpi, the engraving speed needs to be reduced to reach the recommended engraving depth of 1.1mm. So, engraving can be quicker at a resolution of 1,000dpi and save you some time overall, despite the high resolution.
More Information & Tips
Do you need more help with choosing the correct resolution when engraving? Do you have any more questions regarding laser processing? Our laser experts are happy to help you!
