2.1: Choose a suitable piece of glass to run the file. For this project, we used a 3-3/4 inch x 6 inch piece of 1/8 inch thick quality glass.

Tip: Good quality glass will provide the best engraving quality. Cheap glass and/or colored glass will typically exhibit chipping and flaking when laser engraved.

2.2: Apply a sheet of high-tack transfer tape to the surface of the glass as shown in Graphic 2 and, working from the center outward, brush with a squeegee tool to remove any wrinkles.

Note: We recommend the use of TransferRite® Ultra transfer tape which is available in a variety of different widths, lengths and adhesion levels from www.denversignsupply.com.

2.3: Engrave black and white artwork – NOT halftone or grayscale artwork – through the transfer tape onto the glass with the HPDFO™ lens as shown in Graphic 3. Use the power and speed appropriate for your laser system and the material with the following settings:

• Use Calculate for Image Enhancement
• Manually set Contrast to 100 percent (gives
extra power to the edges for sharp effect)
• Increase Definition by 10 percent over
calculated setting
• Set Density to 50 percent (keeps features from
blending together)

Note: The above settings do not apply to VersaLaser. If using VersaLaser, use the Glass setting in the materials-based print driver and vary the Intensity control as necessary.

Note: The HPDFO lens is preferred for creating deep, detailed, high-resolution glass engravings. The above settings will also work with a 1.5 inch lens, but the resulting image will not be quite as sharp as when using HPDFO.

Note: Do not attempt to paint fill a grayscale engraving. Grayscale engraving leaves a series of peaks and valleys in the glass that produce unacceptable results when paint filled.

Tip: For best results, adjust system settings using a piece of scrap glass before running the file.

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