Engraved Plaques for Corporate Recognition

Laser engraving removes a thin surface layer and is used on wood, acrylic and coated metal, where it darkens, frosts or exposes the tone underneath. Deep etch cuts a deeper recess and is the method used on glass, crystal and stone, where that depth is what makes the mark read white against the material. Deep etch also creates a recess that can be color filled; a laser mark generally cannot be.

Yes, through color fill, which drops pigment into the etched recess so the mark reads as a solid color instead of a frosted or darkened cut. The Notched-Border Rosewood Plaque includes color fill as standard, and the Marble Triangular Nameplate includes one color fill. It is priced as one color on the styles that offer it. If your logo needs several colors, choose a style that prices a full-color process instead.

Vector artwork is best, in EPS, AI, PDF or SVG, because engraving follows a path and a vector file supplies one directly. A raster image such as a JPG or PNG has to be traced first, and detail is lost in that step if the resolution is low. If vector is all you have as a low-resolution logo, send it anyway and we will tell you what it will look like before anything is cut.

It depends on the material. On glass, crystal and metal, fine detail holds well. On wood, detail below roughly 1/16 of an inch tends to close up because the laser mark spreads slightly into the grain. Thin reversed-out type, meaning light letters inside a dark engraved block, is the hardest case on any material and is worth simplifying before production. We flag anything at risk on the proof.

No. The mark is cut into the material rather than applied on top of it, so there is no ink or foil to scuff, lift or fade. That is the main reason engraved plaques are chosen for dedications and permanent recognition over printed alternatives. Color fill sits inside the recess and is protected by the surrounding material, so it wears far better than surface print does.

Yes. We send a virtual proof showing your wording and logo laid out in the actual imprint area of the style you chose, and nothing is cut until you approve it. This is the point to check spellings of names, dates and titles, because an engraved mistake cannot be corrected: the plate or the plaque has to be remade. Read the proof against your source list rather than from memory.

One on nearly every style here. The Engraved Rosewood Plaque and the Walnut Cove Edge style price at 1, 10, 25 and 50. The Solid Walnut Laser-Engraved Award Plaque prices at 1, 5, 25 and 100. The Custom Bronze Engraved Deco Plaque Sign and the Double Etch Rosewood Plaque price at 1, 5, 12 and 25. Setup runs between $25 and $100 and is listed with the price table.