Table of Contents
On the surface of the water bottle, the main logo techniques include laser marking, screen printing, 3D UV printing, heat sublimation, heat transfer, water dye printing, and so on. Depending on the desired visual effect for different patterns and the surface material of the water bottle, we will use the appropriate technique.
Now, let’s focus on what laser marking is and the things to consider.
What is laser marking?
In simple terms, laser marking is a process that leaves marks on stainless steel or bamboo wood through the controlled use of a laser. Unlike traditional “damage,” this is a form of controlled and artistic “damage.”
Which products and surfaces can be marked with laser?
Laser marking is commonly used on materials like stainless steel and bamboo wood, where it produces the best results. While it’s possible to mark plastic and glass surfaces with a laser machine, the results are relatively inferior, and it is generally not recommended.
What are the effects of laser marking?
1. On stainless steel water bottles:
As mentioned earlier, laser marking involves creating marks by disrupting certain materials. Therefore, the result may vary on stainless steel water bottles.
For stainless steel water bottles with paint or coating on the surface, the laser machine removes the paint or coating material to reveal the original stainless steel underneath. As a result, the laser-marked logo appears as the clean, natural color of stainless steel.
For stainless steel water bottles without any paint or coating on the surface, the laser beam directly affects the stainless steel surface, leaving a brass-colored logo behind.
2. On bamboo/wood surfaces:
Unlike stainless steel’s hard surface, bamboo wood is a natural material with a more easily disrupted surface. When laser marking is applied to bamboo wood, it burns the surface, resulting in a darker color. The logo surface may also feature engraved or recessed areas.
Can laser marking create colorful logos or patterns?
In practice, some laser machines can create colorful effects on stainless steel under specific conditions. However, unlike traditional color printing, the color range achievable with laser marking is extremely limited and cannot produce custom colors. Therefore, it’s rarely used on stainless steel water bottles.
On bamboo wood, laser marking doesn’t produce colorful effects because it relies on the thermal beam to burn and darken the wood surface. The final appearance of the pattern on bamboo wood may vary in terms of depth. If the laser power is too high, it can damage the surface significantly, causing a loss of logo details and a dark, charred appearance. For intricate and fine patterns, as well as small text, to preserve all details, a lower laser power is necessary, resulting in a lighter overall color.
In any case, laser marking cannot achieve colorful effects on bamboo wood surfaces.
What kind of logo pattern files are needed for laser engraving?
1. In general, we require logo or pattern files to be in vector format, and we strongly recommend converting all text within the file to outlines.
All content in the file, including text within the vector file, should be outlined. This is because different computers have different fonts, and if a computer lacks the font used in the vector file, upon opening the file, the software will automatically substitute the missing font with another, making it impossible to use on a laser machine.
2. How to convert to outlines?
Open the file, select the text portion, or select the entire file, then press Shift+Ctrl+0 (the number zero) simultaneously, and the text will be converted to outlines.
When the fonts in a vector file have not been converted to outlines, and if the font is missing on another computer, opening the file will result in this situation, where the AI software will automatically substitute the missing font with another font.
If the fonts used in the vector file are available on the new computer or if the fonts in the vector file have been converted to outlines, the vector file can be opened accurately using AI software on the new computer.
3. Logos or patterns within the vector file must be single-color or solid.
As mentioned earlier, in most cases, on our water bottles, laser engraving can only produce single-color logos or patterns. So the vector files you provide must be in a single color or solid. Gradient colors, unless converted to a single color, cannot be used on the laser machine. Let’s look at the following examples to understand this point.
The customer provides only one image, which lacks a vector file or even a high-definition version. This image is in JPG format and is only 87 kilobytes, resulting in a very small and blurry picture.
To rectify this, we need to redraw the image, convert it into a vector file, and ensure that the pattern is in solid color.
This is how the pattern will look when it is finally carved on the bamboo bottle.
Can any type of logo and pattern, regardless of size, be created with a laser?
No, not every type of logo or pattern can be created with a laser.
1. Width has limitations, height does not
Laser engraving on a flat surface is relatively straightforward. However, engraving on curved surfaces like water bottles and coffee cups introduces some difficulty and limitations. If the width of the logo or pattern is narrow, such as within 4 cm, we can usually engrave it directly. If the width exceeds 4 cm or if a complete circle pattern is required, a rotating fixture is needed to secure the water bottle. On conical surfaces, like coffee cups, if the logo is too wide, it can increase the difficulty of laser engraving and may not be level. So, we recommend reducing the width as much as possible. There are no height restrictions for the logo or pattern, as long as it fits on the bottle’s surface.
2.Avoid very small text or overly dense lines
Especially on bamboo surfaces, because bamboo contains fibers, if the text is too small or the lines in the pattern are too thick and dense, it may not be possible to engrave them clearly, leading to charring and loss of detail.
3. Detailed patterns may result in lighter colors
On bamboo surfaces, if a pattern has many details, and you can’t make modifications, we may need to lower the laser’s power to ensure the details can be engraved, but this may result in a relatively lighter overall color.
4. Can laser logo colors on bamboo water bottles be consistent?
No, they cannot. This is because each bamboo water bottle has different bamboo materials. The age of the bamboo varies, and typically, with the same laser power, the color of the laser logo on younger bamboo will be lighter, while on older bamboo, the color will be darker. Please see the practical example below, showing the difference in color for the same logo on the left and right sides.
