Engraving Photos on Wood with the Ray5 20W

# Engraving Photos on Wood with the Ray5 20W Photo engraving on wood is one of the best-looking outputs from a diode laser. The key is good image prep and the right dithering mode. ## Image Selection Best results with: - High contrast images - Clear subject, simple background - Strong shadows and highlights - Face photos: good contrast in the face itself Avoid: very low contrast, lots of similar mid-tones, fine gradient backgrounds. ## Image Prep in Photoshop/GIMP 1. **Convert to grayscale** 2. **Increase contrast**: curves or levels — push shadows darker, highlights brighter 3. **Sharpen** slightly (unsharp mask: 80%, 1px, 0 threshold) 4. **Resize** to your print size at 254–508 DPI (0.1–0.05mm per pixel) 5. Export as PNG or BMP ## LightBurn Settings **Mode:** Jarvis or Stucki (best for wood) **Speed:** 3000–4000 mm/min **Power:** 25–35% **Line interval:** 0.1mm (254 DPI) for detail, 0.15mm for speed ## Wood Selection | Wood | Result | |------|--------| | Basswood/birch ply | Light base, high contrast, recommended | | Pine | Grain shows through, rustic look | | Maple | Very light — needs higher power | | Walnut | Dark base — images appear subtle but beautiful | | MDF | Uniform but not as attractive as real wood | ## Troubleshooting | Problem | Fix | |---------|-----| | Too light/faint | Increase power 5% or slow down | | Too dark/burned | Reduce power or speed up | | Dots visible (pixelated) | Lower speed, increase DPI | | Grain interferes | Try different dithering mode | ## Finishing Photo Engravings - Apply tung oil or danish oil to deepen contrast and protect - Matte sealant to prevent smudging - Frame under glass for display pieces

🔧 Related tool: Laser Image Prep Tool

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