Skip to content Raster engraving creates an image by scanning the laser back and forth across the workpiece in closely spaced lines. The laser turns on, off or varies output along each scan line to reproduce filled shapes, photographs, text and tonal patterns.
How does raster engraving work?
The head or beam scans repeatedly across the engraving area. After each pass, the machine advances by a small line interval before scanning the next row. Together, those lines build the finished image.
What controls raster detail?
Detail depends on spot size, line interval, image preparation, motion accuracy, laser response and the material. Increasing nominal resolution beyond what the optical spot and material can reproduce does not automatically create more useful detail.
How are greys represented?
Depending on the machine and workflow, grey levels may be represented by varying power, by dithering into patterns of black and white dots, or by a combination of imaging and laser-control methods.
Raster versus vector
Raster engraving is normally used for filled areas and images. Vector processing follows individual lines or paths and is commonly used for cutting, scoring and line engraving.
LaserUser’s photo-engraving and high-speed engraving sessions explore raster behaviour in much greater depth.
Related: What Is Laser Engraving?, What Is Vector Cutting? and Greyscale Photo Engraving with a Laser.
