Engraving FAQs: From Flash to Finish

Yes. All engraving is performed in-house by our trained team using professional-grade equipment. We don’t outsource this critical step. t’s part of our commitment to quality and turnaround speed.

We use industrial-grade fiber laser systems calibrated for zinc alloy, stainless steel, and anodized aluminum. These produce cleaner, more durable engravings than CO2 lasers. Every product is carefully aligned and optimized to match its shape and finish.

Unlike ink-based methods like screen or pad printing, laser engraving is permanent and professional. It doesn’t chip, peel, or fade over time. The result is clean, elegant, and built to last, which is ideal for promotional items meant to leave a lasting impression.

Once your proof is approved, standard engraving takes 3–5 business days depending on order size and product type.

No. Laser engraving is permanent because it removes material rather than adding anything to the surface. There is nothing to peel, flake, or fade. Your design will remain sharp and legible for years to come.

We carefully tune each engraving pass based on material, plating, and shape. From adjusting the beam frequency to aligning artwork across curves and contours, the finish you see reflects deep technical control.

Rotary engraving uses a spinning cutter to mechanically carve into a surface. It works well for deep cuts but is slower and more limited in detail. Laser engraving uses light, not force — making it faster, more precise, and more flexible for logos, text, and art.

Laser engraving began appearing on promotional items in the late 1990s as fiber laser technology became commercially viable. Today it’s the go-to method for permanent, professional branding on metal goods.

Absolutely. Our systems handle text, logos, QR codes, and custom designs with clarity and precision. We review every order to ensure the best visual result.

Laser engraving allows for exceptional precision, but designs with extremely small text or feature an overly intricate shapes may require adjustment. We’re happy to review your artwork and suggest edits if needed.

We create individual custom in-house holding templates for each specific product we engrave. These precision "jigs" are tailored to securely hold each item in the correct orientation during the engraving process. This ensures that your logo or message is consistently positioned where it should be: straight, centered, and exactly as proofed every single time.

Our gift-boxed zinc alloy keychains, many of which are nickel-plated, produce a unique tone-on-tone engraving. This style is subtle and elegant, perfect for formal occasions, executive gifts, or understated branding.

We also offer dark-faced zinc keychains that engrave with striking contrast. The laser produces a bright silver/white mark against the darker surface — bold, readable, and stylish.

Whether you prefer high contrast or quiet sophistication, our boxed keychains deliver a refined presentation with professional engraving.

Anodizing is a process used to enhance aluminum by creating a hardened, oxide-rich surface layer. This layer increases corrosion resistance, durability, and allows the surface to hold color. Most importantly for our purposes, anodizing produces a smooth finish that reacts beautifully to laser engraving, revealing bright, precise marks.

Laser engraving literally vaporizes the dyed anodized layer, exposing the raw aluminum beneath. The result is a crisp, high-contrast white or silver mark that will never rub off. It’s a permanent part of the surface, not an added layer.

Yes. Our fiber lasers produce bright, visible marks on all anodized aluminum colors. On silver items, the effect is a soft, frosty tone-on-tone look. On dark-faced zinc alloy, the laser produces high contrast silver/white marks. On nickel-plated zinc, the engraving appears tone-on-tone, beautifully subtle and refined.