Etched photographs

Photo engraving on crystal and glass.

A photograph can be etched into crystal, glass, leatherette or wood. How well it comes out depends almost entirely on the image you start from, so we look at your file and tell you what it will really look like before you spend anything.

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Black edge crystal panel on a black base, a flat face suited to photo etching

The honest part

Not every photograph engraves well.

Contrast matters more than megapixels

The laser works in tones. A photo with a clear subject against a distinct background engraves beautifully. A dim photo where the subject blends into the background will engrave as a grey smudge, and no amount of resolution fixes that.

Faces need room

A group shot where each face is a few pixels across cannot be etched legibly at award size. One or two faces, filling the frame, is what this process is good at.

We will tell you before you pay

If your image will not do what you are hoping for, we say so at the quote rather than after you have bought a piece of crystal. Often we can suggest a crop or a different shot that works.

Materials

What a photograph looks like on each surface.

Crystal and glass

A frosted white etch inside a clear block. Lit from below it is genuinely striking, which is why memorial and retirement pieces are usually ordered this way.

Leatherette

The best tonal range of any material we work with. Burning through to the darker layer gives real mid tones, so a portrait holds its depth.

Wood and bamboo

Warm and soft, more like an old print than a photograph. It suits a nostalgic image and flatters a picture that would look harsh in glass.

Questions

Before you order.

What file should I send?

The largest, sharpest original you have, straight from the camera or phone if possible. Avoid anything that has been through messaging apps, which compress heavily. We will tell you if the file is not good enough to use.

Can you engrave a photo onto a piece from your crystal range?

Yes. Most of the flat faced pieces on the crystal and glass pages take a photograph well. Panels, rectangles and wedges give the laser the most room to work with.

Can you remove a background or fix an old photo?

Often, yes. Backgrounds can be cut out and damage can sometimes be repaired. Send the image and we will tell you what is realistic before quoting.

Do I see the engraving before it is cut?

Yes. We lay out your text and artwork and send you a proof. Nothing goes near the laser until you have approved every letter. If the spacing looks wrong to you, we change it and send another proof.

How does ordering work?

Tell us the item, the quantity and what you want engraved. We confirm the price, take a deposit, then send you a proof to approve. Engraving starts once you have signed off.

Do you ship, or do I collect?

Both. We deliver locally across Greater Houston and we ship nationwide. We work by appointment rather than from a shop counter, so arrange a time before coming out.

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