How I Use My Laser To Colour Acrylic

How To use your laser engraver to create stunning full colour images in just a few easy steps.
In this step-by-step guide, we'll show you how to create custom, coloured acrylic designs using your laser engraver. These stunning images make a great addition to any home, shop or make for the perfect personalized gift.
We'll take you through the entire process, from selecting the right materials and tools to designing and colouring your acrylic with precision. You'll learn how to add colour to your acrylic sheets using a special masking technique that will make your acrylic stand out from the rest.
Follow along as we share our expert tips and tricks for achieving professional-looking results. By the end of this video, you'll be ready to create your own custom coloured acrylic designs that will wow your friends and family. Get ready to elevate your crafting game with this fun and creative project!
Tools needed:
laser engraver
clear acrylic sheet
clear lacquer
spray paint
Files used in this video available here:
/ marc_am

[@AusSCUBA]

We used to do this with students many years ago using fine blades or scalpels. Until they decided we couldn't use fine blades or scalpels with students. One tip, start with your dark colours then work to your light colours. This avoids the darkening of colours like we saw in your "subscribe" demo. Black, then red, then white gives a crisper final product.

[@MARCAM]

I bet that was a bit of work doing it by hand mind. Thanks for the tip too! I thought the opposite would be better but it makes sense what you said 👍🏻

[@krisknowlton5935]

You earned a subscription for this one. Three days ago I painted over clear acrylic before I peeled the masking off. It was a test peice to see if I could laser, I think it is called a narrative, on the back of acrylic, paint it, then pull off the masking and you're done. Turn it over and you can read the narrative. It looked great but I never thought of taking it to the extent you did. That was brilliant! You just made my brain go into overdrive.😂

[@MARCAM]

Well thank you very much. I do appreciate it!! I’m exactly the same! I’ll find something out and my brain just constantly thinks of other things to do with it. Not always a bad thing 😂

[@krisknowlton5935]

@@MARCAM I do a lot of iterations of an idea before I am satisfied with the outcome. It is not very often I get it on the first try. This is the best retirement hobby I can think of.

[@benjaminpastrana9662]

Gorgeous work😳🙌

[@jeffhudson1744]

Never thought of doing this. Looks really good.

[@lisaburnham7151]

Oh WOW! That looks amazing! I'm definitely going to get some spray paints and try this.

[@powerpc6037]

I've done something similar using a normal cnc machine (Longmill MK2 30x30) and a springloaded diamond engraving bit (90 gedree tip) to scratch the image onto acrylic but it wasn't as detailed colored like this as I need to remove the protective sheet first to engrave with such a bit. After engraving, I spraypaint loose parts (as I don't have the paper backing, it's hard to spraypaint tiny details) and wipe off the excess paint immediately before it dries up. The paint in the scratches remains in the scratches while the rest is wiped off. I'm considering a CO2 laser but got no room and money atm to buy one. but this is impressive and so detailed. Good job.

[@MARCAM]

Sounds like it was quite a bit more involved with the cnc then. Bet it still looked good mind. You can get co2 lasers quite small these days. The k40 is a nice small desktop machine. The newer machine I’m using at the moment, the Mira 5s isn’t too big of a machine either 👍🏻

[@MichaelBrown-cp4sl]

Very cool! Thank you for sharing!

[@MARCAM]

Thanks for watching!

[@pauladavies7136]

This looks awesome - great idea

[@MARCAM]

Thank you 😊 it was a very fun project

[@qwaj6985]

Great video! Thanks for sharing!

[@MARCAM]

Thank you 👍🏻

[@rkent9672]

This is fantastic and solves a problem I have been mulling over for years. Great work

[@C3DPropShop]

Alright fine. Subscribed. That was pretty good. I need to try this on the CNC with a dragbit

[@MARCAM]

Thank you 😊 Will have to let me know how it turns out 👍🏻

[@user-is1nf1tv6k]

Awesome!

[@terryh5677]

Great idea will be making multicolored acrylic very soon. (tomorrow lol). I had not thought of this.

[@johnpedalpedu2072]

OMG! Instant subscribe! This is so my cup of tea! .. so many things come to my mind now! ty so much for teaching us this amazing craftmanship!😊

[@MARCAM]

Awesome! Thank you! Hope you have fun with it. I've got so many more ideas already for things to create.

[@rpgamers369]

SUPERBBBBBBBB...............❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@peteredwards2371]

Great content from Wales 👍😊

[@MARCAM]

Thank you 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@beehr4468]

Beautiful work - SUBSCRIBED

[@mikestahr2381]

Sweet - I have to try it out - thanks and subscribed!

[@MsMymiracle]

LOVE! Subscribed.

[@MARCAM]

Thank you 😊

[@gnanand5460]

Awesome work.. You earned my instant like and subscribe. ❤

[@MARCAM]

Legend! Thank you 😊🎉

[@jeffcooper2464]

Fantastic video Marc. I’ve liked & subscribed without hesitation. Looking forward to many more of your videos. You’ve also saved me buying lots of different coloured sheets of acrylic & even then you couldn’t really achieve the same end result, particularly with a complex multi coloured design, so thanks a lot.

[@MARCAM]

Amazing to hear! And thank you 😊 It’s a very additive process mind. You’ll be engraving and painting a lot now!! 😅

[@MilanMica]

woow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@CruiseMonkeyGames]

Great job! Just getting into lasers but looking for a side hustle. This is awesome. You can do the same thing on the back of a mirror and it looks really sharp, especially if you backlight it with LEDs.

[@MARCAM]

I have done a little bit with mirrors, but nothing major yet! Will definitely have to look into backlighting one though, for sure 👍🏻

[@ShafaqIftikhar-pw9ld]

Subscribed straight away also!!!!!!!

[@MARCAM]

Thank you very much!! :D

[@larryaveritt6851]

great video. appreciate your patience during the weeding process. was thinking for the smallest bits, based on @ausscuba comment.. maybe use the laser to clear out the first layer 'stuttgart' and do it in black first.. just a little tweak to the process and could save some time and effort.

[@MARCAM]

That’s a very good idea! It’s exactly what I did with my coloured slate video. Not sure why I didn’t even think about it with this method 😅👌🏻

[@barbblack7825]

Thank you.

[@53chute]

You took laser crafting up a notch - thank you 👍

[@MARCAM]

And thank you 👍🏻

[@Gael_AG]

V Nice technique ! Have you tried gold foils instead of paint yet ?

[@MARCAM]

Thank you! Not tried foils yet. Would love to give them a go though. Any advice for someone who’s never used them?

[@Plymouyhian]

Earned a subscribe. It would be great to see a backlit variant.

[@MARCAM]

Legend! Thank you! And that’s a great idea!! I’ll have to work something out and try that as a project 👍🏻

[@1976lancelot]

Good job !! And thanks for sharing. Looks great. I subscribed to your channel.

[@MARCAM]

Amazing! Thank you 👍🏻

[@jerrybootneck1736]

That's pretty awesome work there and gives us plenty of idea's to work with. how thick is your acrylic and where do you buy the bigger sheets from.

[@MARCAM]

I think that piece was just 3mm. You can get bigger sheets from most acrylic online retailers. But try eBay. I’ve found some of the shops on there work out cheaper sometimes 👍🏻

[@jerrybootneck1736]

@@MARCAM Thank you and thank you for the speedy reply.

[@guillaumep.7206]

Very interesting concept. Why using a clear coat rather than directly painting on the acrylic ? Is it to make the paint bond with the plastic, like a primer? Or is it to make it shinier ? By the way, you gained a follower.

[@MARCAM]

Thank you very much 😊 And I spray a layer of clear just incase any paint does try and bleed under the paper layer. It rarely happens but I just like to be that extra bit cautious. It does help with paint bonding too 👍🏻

[@martinzuerner9609]

I'm a newbie to laser engraving...did you just laser etch the backing paper so you use it as a stencil to paint it?

[@MARCAM]

Yep! Just run low power and high speed and should cut through the backing paper no problem

[@penniboothe6612]

What can you do with these? Will the paint scratch off easily if you use it as a key ring?

[@MARCAM]

I mainly use this to make coloured signs. If you use a good enamel type paint and a quick clear coat over the top then doing key rings should be no problem. I use car paint so if you think how well car paint holds up 👍🏻

[@CaridadFernandez-bj8fk]

So you keep the backing on and engrave over it? I was told that is hazardous to breathe?

[@MARCAM]

Yeah you leave it on. I don’t know about it being toxic mind. It’s advised to cut with the paper on from most suppliers as it helps avoid scratches and marks. I’m fairly sure it’s not a toxic backing, but if you have any info on it being toxic feel free to post it here as it would be interesting to read 👍🏻

[@toinebles]

18:30 when a true maker realises what his next project will be!

[@MARCAM]

😂 one of them happy little accidents!

[@lyndonp6296]

Did you cut out the little sheilds with the laser ?

[@MARCAM]

Yeah, they were cut out on a co2 laser as they were made with clear acrylic

[@killernoob1000]

1000th like - it was @ 999 🤣

[@readingcraze7283]

So if you peel something wrong you are done, right? Second two different colors or multiple colors wouldn't they cause different colors?

[@MARCAM]

It’s not the end of the world if you peel the wrong bit. You can just peel all the backing off and mask it again with masking tape. I just find the backing paper to give you a super clean finish and it’s already on the acrylic so makes it easier 👍🏻

[@peterfabry9687]

can this also be done with a diode laser?????

[@MARCAM]

Should work as it’s just cutting through the backing on the acrylic 👍🏻

[@ryanw501]

What laser is this?

[@MARCAM]

this was done with a k40 cO2 laser machine

[@readingcraze7283]

You can do it through diode laser too ?

[@MARCAM]

Yep. A diode will have no problem cutting through the backing material on acrylic

[@Supremish]

You sure? Seeing it wont do anything to clear acrylic without it being painted first or laying it down on a painted sheet of steel. Would think it would just go through the clear paper and clear acrylic and do nothing @@MARCAM

[@MARCAM]

The laser has no problem cutting through the backing paper. The backing isn’t clear either. But, I’m assuming it would still cut through clear tape (never tried)

[@frankw3101]

I have a CO2 laser which is able to cut clear acrylic without any problem. So I have to test if it will be possible to only cut the protection film on the acrylic without cutting the acrylic itself. But the idee of doing that is great. I have no idea why I didn't had this idea before as it is the same technic I am using when airbrushing lexan bodies for RC cars. They are also being painted from the inside. Before painting you put coats of liquid mask on it and then cut out part by part the regions you are going to paint next. starting with the darkest colour and then going on to the lightest colour one by one.

[@mpikas]

Why the clear lacquer before each of the color coats?

[@MARCAM]

I apply it to try and eliminate any possible paint bleed that might happen. It’s very unlikely to happen but I just wanted to be extra careful. Not needed though.

[@Beecher_Dikov]

Noice

[@chrisk926]

The two quotes that changed this video from being confident to fml. 🤑"If this looks as it's supposed to look guys you've go to subscribe." 15:50 🤦‍♂"I just realized I've completely missed something there..." 17:35

[@adammichoo2930]

What's the deal with the clear coat before colour? Is it a must? Can you make your future videos a bit louder? I watch them on my laptop with 100% volume :D

[@MARCAM]

Clear coat first helps with any paint bleeding through. The volume is too loud if anything. When I listen to it on my phone/ tablet. Makes the speakers crackle 😂

[@DesignCutters]

I've seen clear used on wood to prevent bleed/creeping but never seen it done for acrylic. I think if you remove all plastic masking and use medium or high tack transfer tape you may not need the clear coat for acrylic.

[@beehr4468]

So you only score the design?

[@MARCAM]

Just run an cut path with high speed and low power. Just enough to cut the backing so it will peel away nice and easy :)

[@beehr4468]

@@MARCAM so it doesn’t mark the acrylic at all ? I get the low power and fast to cut thru the acrylic paper but it can’t mark the acrylic either ?

[@MARCAM]

@beehr4468 it will be fine if it engraves onto the acrylic too as you will be filling with paint. Just try not to go too deep and risk cutting all the way through

[@eileenhouser9879]

Looks great! What type of colored spray paint did you use? Was it enamel?

[@MARCAM]

It was car spray paints. So without checking on the can, I think most are enamel 👍🏻

[@suplex3987]

what the fuck..amazing... subscribed...

[@MARCAM]

Legend! Love the comment too 👌🏻👌🏻

[@suplex3987]

@@MARCAM I love to experiment with my laser. See my shorts 😀

[@suplex3987]

@@MARCAM and I will try this project with the porsche logo

[@MARCAM]

@suplex3987 love the videos! Defo getting a sub from me! It’s nice to see someone else just trying out something with their laser 👍🏻

[@mrbmp09]

Got to be the worst painting technique I've ever seen.

[@MARCAM]

😂 someone’s had a bad night have they? I’m sorry you feel that way mate. If there’s anything I can do to help let me know 😅