Here are a list of questions we expect will come up from time to time. We hope these provide answers, though please ask if something isn’t clear.

“The Big One” – AKA the Copyright Infringement Question
Let’s observe a hypothetical conversation – Surely no one has ever asked for this before, right? 😉

Customer: Hey man, I really love <<insert favorite sports team or copyright protected character here>>, Can you make me something with that logo?
Etheredge Engraving: Great question! Unfortunately I can’t sell anything that has trademark / copywrite protected status unless I have a license.
C: Oh, ok no problem. I’ll pay for that license, how much is it?
EE: … A lot. Like, A LOT A LOT… Depending on the team/copyrighted work, upwards of $100,000 for the privilege… and then there’s royalties.
C: But “So and So’s Laser Emporium” over on Etsy sells that kind of stuff all the time… Why won’t you do it?
EE: I can’t speak for other businesses… but I’m not looking to get any Cease and Desist letters from copyright holder’s lawyers, so the policy stands. 

Q: What kind of artwork do you need to make an engraving?

A: For normal laser engraving operations a scalable vector graphic file with extensions like SVG, EPS, or Ai is best. These can be made larger or smaller with no loss of detail. If a vector graphic is not available, a high resolution raster graphic like PNG or JPEG image file is generally acceptable.

Q: Can you engrave a photo on something?

A: Yes! Photo engravings can look fantastic on certain projects. A large, high resolution image file like JPEG or PNG is best, as this will need to be manipulated and resampled at a high dots-per-inch (DPI) value for a dithered engraving.

Q: I’ve got this super rare / family heirloom type item that I think would look great with an engraving on it, can you do it?

A: Can I? …probably yes. Should I? …that’s complicated. As a general rule I prefer not to engrave anything that can’t be replaced if I mess it up. Additionally, Laser engraving a new material usually involves some trial and error to get the right settings for that material. Bottom line – rare items, or those full of sentimental value that can’t be replaced are extremely high risk for laser engraving. I would rather decline the job than ruin something you cherish deeply.

Q: Why don’t you list any prices on your project website?

A: Several reasons:

1. I’m improving my product and processes all the time, and doing my best to pass those savings on to you, Mr./Ms. Customer. I’d be editing my website page all the time trying to stay current.
2. It is very unlikely that I will have a price comparable to what you might find on Etsy. I’ve done my best to provide customers with a high quality product featuring original designs tailored to their wishes. That level of individual personalization is difficult to price at large, and I’m not generally aiming to mass produce items that my customers select from a “menu” like they do in the online shopping arena.
3. By not specifically listing a price, I am encouraging you to talk to me and best understand what services I can provide. If it turns out we’re not  a good fit together on this project, that’s OK. I’d rather share thoughts and ideas with you now and establish a great relationship. Maybe a future project will be a better fit!

Q: Can you do large orders?

A: I hope so! I will always be honest with you and quote a price that I believe is fair, and a timetable that is realistic. This engraving business is a nights and weekends style job for me, so I have to keep my family and day job priorities maintained before I can tackle any engraving. If you need 500 of something made overnight, it’s likely that I can’t help. However if you need 500 of something done with enough time to order and receive materials, engrave and process them, and then deliver I am happy to accept the challenge!

Q: I see you take a lot of pictures and post stuff on social media… I want my project to be secret. No photos. No videos. Is that OK?

A: Absolutely. I will always respect my customers’ right to privacy. If a project requires secrecy for any reason (a gift for someone we both know, perhaps…) I will keep any such photos out of public forums.

Q: Can you engrave on XYZ material?

A: The following is a partial list of materials that I can engrave and/or cut with a CO2 based laser:
Paper, Cardboard, Slate, Stone, Plywood, Hardwood, Softwood, Vegetable Tanned Leather, Cork, Acrylic, Glass, Stainless Steel*, Aluminum*
*These materials can be “marked” with the use of specialized spray products, but they can’t have an engraving into the surface with CO2 laser

Q: Are there materials you can’t or won’t engrave?

A: Yes, anything that has vinyl as an ingredient, such as polyVINYLchloride (PVC) is not safe to engrave in a laser. Additionally leathers that were tanned using chromium based processes are not safe. This is not an exhaustive list, but these two tend to come up most often.