How Laser Etching Works

Sub-Surface Laser Engraving

We take a digital image (like the image of this boy) and laser etch it into optically perfect laser crystal without damaging the surface. We offer only the finest quality crystal which is sometimes referred to as K-9 crystal.

The technical answer

Light is actually an electro-magnetic wave and thus has an electric field. A laser beam, also known as coherent light, creates an electric field greater than 10 million volts per centimeter. The focus of the laser beam creates “free” or unattached electrons. The “free” electrons, accelerated by the electric field created by the laser beam, causes the high energy electrons to collide with atoms and ions in the focus area. As the process continues, it causes a chain reaction and produces about 1 million trillion free electrons per cubic centimeter in about 1 trillionth of a second. This phenomenon is called “multiphoton absorption.”

Multi-photon absorption to create this crystal art

The process involves focusing a “light fantastic laser beam” to a spot (about one-tenth of the diameter of a human hair) within a block of optically perfect crystal. The laser then emits a short pulse beam (a few billionths per second) and produces a tiny micro crack. The systems then perfectly align and position tens of thousands of additional micro cracks to create the images. Although, the laser generates power densities of 10 billion watts per square centimeter, the surface of the crystal is NOT damaged due to the highly transparent nature of optically perfect crystal. The resulting images appear to float within the crystal.

All we need is your digital picture.  Within a week (longer in December)  we can have your crystal art FedExed to you.  An amazing gift idea.  We have delivered over 1,000,000 custom pieces with a single picture or multiple pictures within the crystal. Let us offer you an image with a special caption.

See our sizes and prices and see get more data on the gift ideas pictured below.