Engraving Images on Granite for Headstones. Cant Get the Settings Right

LightBurn Software Questions
1

Hi all,

I’m using an AP Lazer SN4836 100W - 1.5 lens, mainly for engraving granite for headstones, and I’m running into a lot of issues trying to get clean, consistent results.

I’ve tried both:

Running images through Da Big Gimpin’ (Dither and Halftone modes)
And also just using LightBurn’s built-in photo processing tools

But no matter what I try, the results aren’t where I want them to be.

Problems:

With Da Big Gimpin’ Dither: I get weird speckled backgrounds and sometimes horizontal banding

With Da Big Gimpin’ Halftone (1.5 Tile preset):** results are cleaner but still not perfect — details look soft or washed out

With LightBurn’s Jarvis/Stucki dithering: the image often looks too pixelated, or just turns into a blob when engraved

Even well-edited photos lose clarity or burn unevenly

What I’ve Tried:

  • DPI: 254, 300, 150, 200
  • Line Interval: 0.1 mm
  • Power: 20%
  • Speed: 12 - 30 mm/sec
  • Dot Width Correction: Tried 0.002", 0.001", and OFF
  • Negative Image: ON (since it’s granite)
  • Pass-Through: ON when using pre-dithered images
  • Pass-Through: OFF when using LightBurn to dither

Still can’t get smooth grayscale transitions or sharp facial features. Either the image gets too dark, or turns into a weird mess of dots that doesn’t resemble the photo.

Any advice would be appreciated. Are there known quirks with LightBurn’s photo engraving on granite at this scale? Am I missing something obvious in my workflow?

Thanks in advance!

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Show some pictures of the results to help people judge it.

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I assume you mean something like this?

image
image939×938 118 KB

I don’t know how these are made, but I can give you a few guidelines to help you along.

Your possible image resolution (interval or dpi) is determined by two things, the lasers spot size and the material.

A laser works on most stone material, but heating up till it fractures. This usually marks the stone.

If this leaves a visible mark, I can’t say, it depends on the material itself. I’ve had some slate, that’s not really dark and lases white, so keep that in mind. You mentioned it’s a negative image, so I assume it’s this same type of problem.

As far as interval, you should watch the Laser Everything video on photo engraving. This is very good, although done on a fiber laser, the process works with any laser and any material. It also explains how to use the dot width correction.

Grayscale varies the machines power and a dither uses the same power with a pattern to make your brain think it’s a grayscale. Most materials do not have a range for photographs that is wide enough to make a photo. If the material starts to mark at 40% and is burnt at 60%, then your grayscale must be compressed to use that material with a grayscale type of operation.

It’s worse with rocks, I’ve tried various types, although not granite.

I think you’ll do best with a dither of some type, but if you follow the video I linked to it should show success in some way.

If dissimilar from the photo I posted, please post a photo of your material, that may help.

:smiley_cat:

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