Faster pass for simple logos or large fills. May leave slight paint haze — a second pass at same settings cleans it. Use if 2000mm/min setting feels too slow for large jobs.

Slower speed for text under 5mm tall or portrait detail work. Gives LightBurn controller time to ramp/de-ramp on small features. Same prep: 1–2 thin flat matte black coats, dry overnight. Focus at paint surface. Wipe with IPA after.

Paint stainless steel with 1–2 thin coats of flat/matte black acrylic spray (Rustoleum or Krylon flat black). Let dry overnight. Laser removes the paint leaving bare metal — high contrast black-on-silver result. Sharp focus at paint surface. Air assist strongly recommended to clear paint smoke from lens. Post-engrave: wipe with IPA to remove residue. The laser marks the paint, not the steel itself.

Opaque/cast black acrylic only. Use Constant Power mode in LightBurn. Focus 1–2mm below surface. Clear acrylic is not suitable — 450nm diode passes straight through it.

Multiple passes cleaner than one slow pass. Air assist recommended to prevent flare-ups in porous cork.

Cork chars easily — keep power low. Lovely contrast at low settings. Test on scrap first.

Fast clean cut. Skip air assist on cardboard — it can cause flare-ups. Watch closely.

Removes anodized coating — reveals bare metal underneath. High contrast result. Wipe with microfiber cloth after to reveal detail. Works best on black anodized; gold/silver anodize may need more power. Does NOT work on bare (non-anodized) aluminum.

Bright white mark on black slate. Invert your image in LightBurn. No air assist — it scatters debris onto the lens. Wipe surface with damp cloth after. Use Stucki or Jarvis dithering for photos.

2–3mm veg-tan. Keep speed moderate — too slow scorches the oils. Air assist helps edge quality.

Clean dark mark on veg-tan leather. Power varies by hide thickness — test on scrap first. Veg-tan only; never chrome-tanned leather.

Glue layers absorb differently — 3 passes. Air assist on. Check flatness of sheet before long cuts.

Watch for glue layers causing inconsistency. Consistent with even pressure on the material.

MDF chars heavily — air assist is critical. 3 passes. Multiple fast passes give cleaner edges than one slow pass.

Uniform density — no grain surprises. Good for signage and name plaques.

2 passes at full power. Air assist greatly reduces char on edges. Ensure material is flat to the bed.

Good fill engrave. Forgiving material. Bump to 70% for darker result. Run a material test grid first.