Materials & finishes
What works on what, and why.
A practical reference to the substrates that pass through the studio. If yours isn't listed, ask. We keep test panels on standby for anything new.
Metals
| Material | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Stainless steelFibre (MOPA) | Deep etch for awards, dark anneal for serialisation, polished contrast on cutlery and gifts. |
| Brass & bronzeFibre (MOPA) | Crisp deep-engrave for plaques, recognition pieces, and signage. |
| Anodised aluminiumFibre (MOPA) | High-contrast light and dark laser marking on suitable anodised aluminium, including asset tags, identification plates and branded products. Light marking can remove or alter the dye or surface finish, while carefully controlled MOPA settings can produce different dark-marking effects. Results depend on the anodised coating, colour, thickness and material, so representative samples are tested before production. |
| TitaniumFibre (MOPA) | Colour marking via pulse-tuning for jewellery, medical, and contemporary collections. |
| Plated metalsUV | Fine, low-heat-input marking on selected plated and coated metals, including finished jewellery and decorative components. UV laser processing can be advantageous for delicate surfaces, but thin plating may still be altered or removed. The appropriate laser and settings must be established through sample testing. |
Wood & timber
| Material | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Hardwoods (oak, walnut, beech)CO₂ (P3) | Rich, dark engrave with controllable depth for signage, awards, and joinery details. |
| Plywood & MDF (laser-grade)CO₂ (P3) | Cuts cleanly for props, jigs, and architectural models. |
| Cork & bambooCO₂ (P3) | Soft contrast suited to hospitality and gift packaging. |
Acrylic & polymers
| Material | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Cast acrylicCO₂ (P3) | Polished flame-edge cuts and crisp etched faces for signage and awards. |
| PolycarbonateUV | UV marking may be suitable for certain polycarbonate grades, subject to material identification, safety assessment and sample testing. Polycarbonate is not processed on CO₂. |
| ABS, PET, nylonUV | Cosmetic packaging, electronics housings, and technical components. |
Glass, leather & soft goods
| Material | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Glass & optical crystalUV (F2 Ultra UV) | Fine, detailed surface engraving on suitable glass using our xTool F2 Ultra UV. Its relatively low heat input can offer advantages over conventional CO₂ processing, although results depend on glass composition, thickness, focus and settings. Our F2 Ultra UV also supports specialist internal engraving of compatible optical crystal, including K9, using a separate workflow. |
| Leather (full-grain, suede)CO₂ or UV | CO₂ for deep brand burns on belts and folios; UV for cosmetic marking on premium goods. |
| Paper & cardCO₂ (P3) | Wedding stationery, hospitality menus, and architectural model card. |
| Textiles & feltCO₂ (P3) | Cut and edge-seal in one pass for retail props and craft production. |
Full-colour UV printing
Printing, not engraving: the O1 Omni Dual-Head UV
Alongside our lasers, we print direct full-colour UV images with our xTool O1 Omni Dual-Head UV. UV printing deposits ink onto the surface and cures it with UV light; laser engraving and marking alter or remove the material itself. That makes printing the right route for full-colour artwork, white underbases, fluorescent accents and raised texture, including rotary printing and UV DTF transfers. Adhesion and durability depend on the substrate and any primer, so new materials are tested first.
Frequently asked
- Will you test on my exact material before quoting a run?
- For production work, yes. Send a sample and we'll run a test panel — different alloys, finishes, and batches behave differently, and we'd rather prove it than assume.
- What can't you laser?
- PVC, vinyl, polycarbonate on CO₂, and any substrate that releases chlorine, cyanide, or carcinogenic fumes. We'll always tell you when a material is off-limits and suggest a safe alternative.
- Can you supply materials, or do I send my own?
- Either. We stock laser-grade acrylic, common timber, and stainless blanks. For custom substrates we'll either source through our trade partners or work with stock you ship in.
Approved materials also travel for live laser engraving at events. Curious which laser handles which substrate? See the per-machine xTool reviews, the jewellers' guide or the signage workshop guide.
Got a substrate we haven't listed?
Send a sample. We'll run a test panel and report back with the right method and settings.
Related reading
Journal
What materials can you laser engrave? A practical reference
A working list of what each laser type marks, cuts, and refuses to touch — built from years of production runs, not a marketing sheet.
Read more about What materials can you laser engrave? A practical referenceJournal
The best wood to laser engrave: a working shortlist
Not all timber behaves under a laser. Here's the shortlist we actually keep in stock at the studio — and the woods we've given up on.
Read more about The best wood to laser engrave: a working shortlistJournal
Anodised aluminium engraving: settings that work first time
A starting-point settings guide for clean marks on anodised, raw, cast and extruded aluminium — cited to xTool's own published guidance and how we adapt it in production.
Read more about Anodised aluminium engraving: settings that work first time