Denim
Overview
Woven cotton denim fabric. Engraves to reveal lighter cotton beneath dark indigo dye. Cuts with slight charring. Popular for custom jean patches, bag panels, and fashion laser work.
Properties
Difficulty
intermediate
Pros
- Unique engraved texture on fabric
- Good for custom apparel
- Indigo contrast when engraved
- Durable material
- Natural fiber processes well
Cons
- Can scorch at high power
- Dark color limits visibility
- Thickness varies
- Fraying edges
Best For
- Jean pocket designs
- custom patches
- bag panels
- festival apparel
- fashion branding
Avoid For
- Stretch denim (elastane melts)
- very thin denim under 7oz (warps)
- white denim (no contrast)
Laser Compatibility
Denim engraves with bleached/worn appearance. CO2: engrave 400mm/s 25W for subtle effect. Diode: 500mm/s 60-80%. Not ideal for cutting — use rotary if available. Results vary by dye color and weave.
Brands
Standard indigo denim 10-14ozpre-washed preferred for consistent results