Light LabHawaiʻi
Custom Laser Engraving · Big Island, Hawaiʻi

Engraved and scored. Right down to the fine print.

Names, logos, linework and photos, burned into wood, acrylic, leather, slate and more in our South Kona shop. Send a file or just the words. We lay it out and send a proof before anything is burned.

Email us your artwork

A phone photo of your logo, or the words typed in an email, is a perfectly good start.

Three ways in
01 You have artwork

A logo, a monogram, a design you love. SVG, AI, EPS or PDF engrave crispest; a PNG, JPG or phone photo works too.

If it needs it, we redraw it as clean vector so the edges stay sharp at any size.

02 You have the words

Two names and a date. A family name for the gate. “Thank you” for forty volunteers.

We set the type, send you a proof, and engrave once you’re happy with it.

03 You have an idea

A sketch on a napkin, a photo of something you saw, a feeling you’re going for.

We design it from scratch and show you exactly how it’ll look before anything is burned.

Personalizing is easy

Forty place tags with forty different names run from one layout. Send a spreadsheet of names and we merge them in. Because the setup happens once, matching sets cost less per piece than you’d think.

One gift, one plaque, one sign for the front gate, send it over.

What the laser does
ENGEngrave

Text, logos, fills and photos, burned in line by line. Dark and crisp in wood, frosty white in cast acrylic.

SCRScore

A fine line traced along the outline. Hairline borders, line drawings, maps and delicate detail.

FILColor fill

The engraving is masked and filled with paint, so a logo pops in color and stays readable outdoors.

Materials

The same artwork looks different on every material. Here’s what to expect.

Hardwood
Light woods like maple and alder give the strongest contrast. Walnut and cherry give a richer, more subtle mark. Koa engraves beautifully too.
Plywood & MDF
Baltic birch engraves evenly for tags and signs. MDF engraves dark and takes paint well.
Cast acrylic
Engraves a frosty white. Engraved from the back, it reads through the front; lit from the edge, the engraving glows.
Leather & cork
Patches, tags, journal covers and coasters. Leather darkens and embosses slightly where it’s burned.
Slate & stone
Engraves a light gray on dark stone. Coasters, memorial pieces and house markers.
Glass
A frosted etch on glassware, bottles and mirrors.
Coated drinkware
The laser removes the powder coat to reveal the steel underneath. Tumblers and bottles with a logo or name.

Something else in mind? Ask. We’ll run a test on a sample before committing your piece.

What people actually engrave
Weddings
  • Welcome and seating signs
  • Table numbers
  • Place tags and name cards
  • Favors and keepsake medallions
Business
  • Logo plaques and door signs
  • Branded coasters and tags
  • Menu and price boards
  • Product tags and packaging pieces
Awards & thank-yous
  • Plaques and medallions
  • Team and staff awards
  • Sponsor thank-you pieces
  • Event and tournament trophies
Gifts & keepsakes
  • Names, dates and monograms
  • Serving and cutting boards
  • Memorial and anniversary pieces
  • Personalized boxes and frames
Home & ranch
  • House and address signs
  • Family name signs
  • Ranch and gate signs
  • Garden and plant markers
Events & community
  • Festival and vendor signs
  • Wayfinding and direction signs
  • Fundraiser keepsakes
  • Sponsor and donor boards
Why engraving it here matters

Online engraving shops are fine when you know exactly what you want and have weeks to spare. But a typo, a font that looks wrong in wood, or a set that arrives one short is a real problem when the event is Saturday and the shop is an ocean away.

Engraving it here means you approve a proof first, talk to the person doing the work, and pick it up when it’s done. Or have it delivered with the rest of your event.

Before it’s burnedYou approve a proof first
Matching setsOne or one hundred, engraved to match
Short noticeNo mainland shipping wait
Talking it throughThe person engraving it answers
Need more?CNC-cut shapes and lighting, same shop
How it goes
  1. 01
    Send what you’ve got

    Artwork, a logo photo, the words, or a sketch. Tell us how many and when you need them.

  2. 02
    We proof and quote it

    A to-scale proof at the real size of the piece, with fonts and placement set, plus the price. Changes are easy at this stage.

  3. 03
    We engrave it

    Settings are tested on scrap of the same material, then the run goes. Pieces are masked where smoke would stain, cleaned, and sealed if they’re going outside. Small orders are often ready in a few days; we’ll give you a date up front.

  4. 04
    Pick it up, meet us, or we ship it

    Collect it from us in Kona, or we’ll meet you somewhere that works. We deliver around the Big Island, and ship to Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi and the mainland.

Good to know
What can you engrave on?
Wood is the core of it: signs, medallions, coasters, serving boards, tags and plaques. We also engrave cast acrylic, leather, cork, slate, glass and coated drinkware. Something else in mind? Ask, and we’ll test a sample.
Can you cut shapes too?
Yes, on the CNC in the same shop: letters, shapes, signs and inlays, often with engraved detail added on the laser. See signs & fabrication.
Can you do a matching set for a wedding or event?
Yes, and it’s one of the most common jobs we do. Table numbers, place tags, favors, welcome and seating signs. Send a list or spreadsheet of names and we merge them in. We proof one first, then engrave the rest to match.
Can you engrave a photo?
Yes. Photos are engraved in grayscale, dot by dot, and look best on light, even-grained wood, slate or cast acrylic. Send the highest-resolution version you have; we adjust the contrast for the material.
Do I need a design file?
No. Send the words you want, a phone photo of your logo, or a sketch on paper. We lay it out and send you a proof before anything is engraved.
What file types work best?
Vector files (SVG, AI, EPS or PDF) with text converted to outlines give the crispest edges. High-resolution PNG or JPG works for photos and shaded artwork. A low-res logo we can redraw as clean vector.
Will it last outdoors?
Engraving doesn’t wear off like print; it’s burned into the surface. For outdoor pieces we choose a stable material, color-fill for contrast and finish it with an exterior UV-resistant coat.
How much does it cost?
It comes down to size, detail, material and how many you need. One piece is fine. For matching sets, wedding favors, table numbers, team awards, the price per piece drops, because the setup only happens once. You get the price before anything is engraved.
How long does it take?
Small orders are often ready within a few days. Larger batches take longer. Tell us your date up front and we’ll tell you honestly whether it works.
Do I have to be on the Big Island?
No, but it’s where we are and where we’re quickest. We’re in South Kona. Big Island orders can be picked up or delivered; everywhere else in the state, we ship.
Do you do 3D printing too?
We do, in the same shop: parts, props, cake toppers and branded objects. See 3D printing.

Serving the Island of Hawaiʻi · Kailua-Kona · Keauhou · Captain Cook · Kohala Coast · Waikoloa · Waimea · Hāmākua · Hilo · Puna · Volcano

Got something to engrave?

Send the words, the artwork, or just the idea. We’ll send back a proof and a price.

Email us your artwork

Or call (808) 896-1589 · find us on @lightlabhawaii

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