Video of Vector Drawing
Auto tracing of a black and white image to produce a pictorial engraving
I get people telling me that laser engraving should be cheap
because its just a case of auto tracing the image
which only takes a minute in vector software
Auto tracing will only produce a picture
To produce a 3D wax impression multiple depths are required
A bigger higher definition photo of a wax or image of crest is better
Click on the image to zoom in and the difference is clear
The larger I can make the image without distortion
the more accurately I can trace the detail
Especially important when drawing eyes and crowns etc
A very quickly produced demo of vector drawing
This is not a " how to " video , more a " how not to video "
It would be unwise for me to show the exact drawing process I developed myself
And as an average crest drawing can take up to 4 hours the video would be to long
Fortunately unlike a hand engraver repeat engravings take a fraction of the time
I reserve the right to re use every design unless customer specifies otherwise
and then like a hand engraver the cost will be hourly based and roughly £300.00
After laser engraving there is still work to be done !
The laser burns out the metal with extreme heat
Evaporating the metal which is extracted as smoke
Although the detail is all evident in the Blue Tack impression
A raised burnt edge ( removed prior to main photo ) and the rusty brown
residue is removed by hand enhancing the design further
with a high speed rotary drill and 0.30mm dental type burrs
This takes patience and skill to avoide damaging the fine detail
The ring being engraved in video above also my main header photo
To clarify one other issue raised by many crest engravers
The 4 rings in my header photo were cast from clients
own sentimental gold " obsolete jewellery "
Initially cast perfectly plain the Celtic design in shoulders is also laser engraved
If what other people say was true
" all cast rings are porouse "
This sort of detail would not be possible