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Design Guide: Achieving the Perfect Engraving

Creating high-quality engravings with your Neon involves balancing detail, speed, and execution order. This guide explains how to master the fill settings for professional results.

I. Understanding Engraving Resolution

In Neon Studio, you can choose between Low, Medium, and High resolution for your fills. This setting determines the density of the laser passes.

How to Change Resolution:

  1. In the Neon Studio control bar, click the Gear Icon (⚙️).
  2. Select your desired resolution from the dropdown menu.
  3. Close the window to apply the change.

The Science of Resolution:

  • Low Resolution: The laser skips more space between lines. It is fast but may show visible gaps.
  • Medium Resolution: The standard setting. It doubles the number of lines compared to Low.
  • High Resolution: Doubles the density of Medium. It creates a solid, deep finish but takes significantly longer to complete.

Power Adjustment

Because High Resolution places more laser lines in the same area, it generates more heat. You may need to lower your power when switching from Medium to High to avoid overburning the material.

II. Execution Order: Engrave First, Cut Last

To ensure perfect alignment, always set your Engraving layers to execute before your Cutting layers.

  • The Risk: When the Neon cuts a shape, the piece can shift slightly due to air assist or gravity. If you try to engrave after the cut, the design may be off-center or misaligned.
  • The Solution: By engraving while the piece is still firmly attached to the main material sheet, you guarantee 100% precision.

Example: Misaligned engraving (cut first) vs. Perfect alignment (engraved first) (Coming Soon)

III. Application Specific Tips

1. Mirrored Acrylic

Always engrave on the back side using High Resolution and Low Power. This removes the mirror coating without melting the acrylic core.

2. Wood and MDF

For a "darker" engraving on wood, you can slightly de-focus the laser (raise the nozzle by 1-2mm). This creates a wider, warmer beam that browns the wood without deep charring.

3. Contrast on Glass

When engraving glass, a Medium Resolution often looks better than High, as it prevents the glass from fracturing too much due to heat stress.

Pro Tip

In the Neon Studio preview, check the estimated time for different resolutions. Often, a well-tuned "Medium" resolution is much more cost-effective for production than "High."

Need help with a complex logo? If your engraving looks blurry or inconsistent, it might be time to check your mirror alignment. Contact Neon Laser Support for a remote diagnostic session.