Engraving Awards: Laser Engraving vs Sand Etching
An excellent employee deserves an award that exudes elegance and can last a lifetime. Glass and crystal awards meet that criteria and can be laser engraved (etched) or sand (deep) etched with the message or logo of your choice. Let’s look at the difference between laser engraving and sand etching to help you determine which technique you prefer for your employee awards.
Laser Engraving
Laser engraving requires the use of a laser to mark or etch the surface of an award. Laser engraving is required for acrylic awards, but it can also be used on glass, leather, marble, metal, plastic, stone, and other natural materials and has numerous advantages. Laser engraving can be completed quickly and leaves behind a clean, crisp, and permanent mark that is easy to see. To the touch it is almost impossible to feel the depth of the etching. It is ideal for photos, graphics, and logos because it is highly accurate and has the ability to engrave more than 1000 dots per inch.
Sand Etching
Sand etching, also referred to as sandblasting, requires a mask (stencil) to be made of your message and can also be used on onyx, marble, and wood. The stencil is applied to the crystal, glass, or other material. Using the compressed air found in an airbrush, sand flows through the lines blasting the open area of the stencil. This erodes or roughens the surface, leaving behind a somewhat frosted look that has a depth to it when touched. It is possible to use sand etching to create logos, designs, and photos on a surface. If not done correctly, sand etching can cut through a piece of glass.
Awards.com is proud to provide personalization on our awards, trophies, and plaques at no extra cost. Whether you are awarding a high achieving employee for a job well done or presenting years of service awards to loyal employees, you want to ensure they receive a high quality award that maintains it appearance for decades to come.
When you are ready to order awards, trophies, and plaques for your employees, Awards.com has a wide selection to choose from. If you have any questions, please call us at 1-800-4-Awards (1-800-429-2737).
