How to Choose the Right Resolution for your Engraving

Choosing the right resolution has a huge impact on the engraving result. The material used, the graphic content and the processing time play an important role.

Used material and graphic content

Material impact

Materials absorb energy during laser engraving. Due to the strong heating, the dots become larger and can overlap (= “dot bleed”). This property is particularly important for photo engraving and must be considered. In order to counter this effect, the right resolution is crucial.

Used material	Preferred resolutions
wood, glass, textile, stone	lower resolutions: 125, 250 und 333 dpi
acrylic, TroLase materials, paper, cardboard	moderate resolutions: von 500 bis 600 dpi
stamps, metal, processing with fiber laser	higher resolutions: von 600 bis 1000 dpi

Graphic content

Depending on the level of detail in the graphic, it is recommended to increase the resolution to 600 dpi despite the “dot bleed” described above. This allows even very fine details to be optimally engraved.

The time factor

The higher the selected resolution, the more time is needed for the laser engraving.
If you choose a different resolution, you can also save engraving time. For large-scale engravings, for example, choose a lower resolution and compensate for the resulting line spacing with a higher Z offset value.

Consistent engraving result - 1/4 of the original processing time

See our example of how you can engrave the same graphic at 500dpi with the same result at 125 dpi in just 1/4 of the time:

	Speedy 360, 80 Watt, P=65%, v=50%
Resolution	125 dpi	250 dpi	333 dpi	500 dpi
z-Offset	+12 mm	+12 mm	+9 mm	+6 mm
time [h]	1,52	3,31	4,28	6,47

Laser engraving with different resolutions

Exception for the laser engraving of rubber stamps:

In this case, a higher resolution will increase the energy density when engraving. If the stamp is engraved at 500 dpi, the engraving speed must be reduced in order to reach the recommended engraving depth of 1.1 mm. In contrast, engraving can be faster at a resolution of 1,000 dpi and thus some time can be saved despite the higher resolution.

More information and tips

Do you need more tips on choosing the right resolution or do you have any other questions about laser processing? Our experts will be happy to help you.