Learn to Engrave your Photos on Wood - what you need to know for better results!

"Wooden" it be nice if laser engraving photos was as simple as pressing play on your laser engraver. While it may take a few more steps and a touch of finesse, you can learn to engrave photos on wood with confidence and get better results by following the steps outlined in this video.
If you want to learn how to engrave photos on Slate Coasters watch this video • Photo Engraving on Sla...
If you want to learn the Norton White Tile Method for white ceramic tiles - watch this video • Norton White Tile Meth...

[@gabrielkelly5268]

Great step by step approach. I am about to start up engraving so I was particularly interested in the process of setting up the diode laser, thanks.

[@paragonn22]

Thank you so much Mr. Smith, for such thorough and descriptive demonstration. It has helped me improve mine significantly!

[@mrcraftsmith]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Jacqueoldfield]

Thank you Darren , this information is so helpful

[@mrcraftsmith]

Excellent - glad it was helpful

[@pglye4308]

Hi, I am using a 50w co2. What is the recommended setting of power and speed to engrave on plywood. Thank you

[@mrcraftsmith]

Unfortunately I don't have a CO laser so i couldn't really advise - have tou done a material test?

[@t1czer]

Thank you so much! Working with grayscale is not easy, but you made it sound like it's so simple

[@mrcraftsmith]

thank you for tuning in - I hope you get the results you are after - it is a bit of trial and error :)

[@PuppetWood]

Thank you for the tips.

[@mrcraftsmith]

You're welcome

[@jerrybootneck1736]

Very interesting Darren. My wife keeps on at me to put an image of her onto slate after she seen my slate coasters of my 2 dogs, both black and white dogs and that turns out pretty good. Looking forward to more video's. Thank you.

[@mrcraftsmith]

Thanks for watching Jerry - it certainly is tricky to get great photo results on wood in my opinion - it just lacks detail and is the nature of the material when you burn it - slate and tiles are more precise as the “burn” can’t really spread and is a more defined dot - all the best with your projects 🙂

[@Therugdealeratlanta]

good content! aint miss a thing

[@beverlybenham3458]

Thanks for all the effort you put into this testing! I'm coming to the conclusion that photos on wood just aren't going to work the way I'd like them to...(at least for me with my laser). I'm still so impressed with what you did with photos on slate that I think that's a better way to go.

[@mrcraftsmith]

Hey Beverly - thank you for taking the time to watch my videos - I appreciate it 🙂 - I’m definitely on the fence about photo engraving on wood - I do prefer tile and slate for sure - but I will persist with wood and see if I can improve my results

[@christhomas8626]

I am using a Vevor 3018 with an 8 watt laser. I also tend to favour MDF as a material. Should I get results as good as yours ?

[@mrcraftsmith]

Hi Chris - looking at the specs of that machine the stepper motor accuracy is rated to 0.08-0.1mm whereas the Ortur LM3 is rated at 0.01mm - what progrm do you run it in for the laser?

[@geowat2198]

My understanding of engraving on wood, if you use a 22 to 25 degree burn it would help with the grain issues.

[@mrcraftsmith]

will give that a go some time - thanks

[@dweaver1805]

Love your vids. Learned more from a guy only a few months in than many other vid tutorials put together. One other thing I'd like to mention is that when I do my tests now on material I also run the DPI test after the two you do to see the best DPI I can get on a material.
My Atomstack A5 I can only run at 600 speed for everything because faster speeds cause wiggly lines and ruin clarity. I ran a bunch of tests and compared them under a scope. But at least I am now getting better results so I just run power tests on everything at that speed.
Will you be getting a rotation device to show how to do tumblers and things? I hope :)

[@mrcraftsmith]

Thank you for your feedback - I appreciate you taking the time to respond - I am always happy to share as I learn, while it’s fresh in my memory 😜 - I think it’s more enjoyable if you kinda know how things are going to turn out - a sense of accomplishment even - now I do have the rotary attachment - it’s still in the box - so yes there will be content in the future - however I have a lot to learn before I get to that point 🙂

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

Suggestion for you on your adomstack check the belt tension and also check to see if the grub screws on the stepper meter pulley is tight. You should be able to run much faster than 600mm/m 😁🛫

[@Pwn3dbyth3n00b]

Have you tried overlapping your intervals? My laser is advertised as a 0.06mm circle when focused properly so I set my laser to 0.05mm so theres overlap between the layers so grain is hidden more effectively.

[@mrcraftsmith]

That's a great tip - thanks for sharing 👍

[@lmlindbergno]

Great video! Just want to shoot in that you should try engrave cross grain. I can make a big difference :)

[@mrcraftsmith]

Thanks for watching - I did try cross grain in the video - it wasn’t a great outcome but admittedly would require further testing from me to refine the process 🙂

[@NormanCollinsTeaching]

Could you share your testing files or give links to where you got them?

[@mrcraftsmith]

Hi there Norman - can you be more specific as to which file you are referring to?

[@graziellacaruana1446]

How to do test on wood please?

[@mrcraftsmith]

How do you test what exactly? I'm not sure what you mean

[@waynebrookes242]

good job......

[@mrcraftsmith]

thanks Wayne - appreciate you tuning in

[@scottnever8732]

Are you the voice of Korg?

[@mrcraftsmith]

Haha - Korg is a Kiwi, I'm an Aussie ;)

[@parker1ray]

To light!

[@mrcraftsmith]

probably :)