Laser Marking - Photos on 304 Stainless Steel

Introduction

Marking a photo onto 304 stainless steel is one of the most impressive applications of a fiber laser. From personalized gifts to commemorative plaques, metal photo engraving offers a permanent, high-contrast finish that feels premium and lasts a lifetime.
In this tutorial, you’ll learn exactly how to prepare your photo, adjust the image for laser marking, set up your stainless steel sheet, and run a clean, detailed marking job—perfect for beginners and hobbyists who want professional results.

Machine Used

Aurora Lite

See more details about this machine→

Material Needed

304 Stainless Steel Tag

Settings

Laser Marking

Speed:100mm/s
Power:10%
KHz: 50
Lines per Inch: 1544.00
Number of Passes: 1

Before your work begins

Step 1: Place the Material on the Laser Bed

Lay your 304 stainless steel sheet flat on the laser bed. Make sure it is clean, fingerprint-free, and secured so it won’t shift during marking.

Tip:
To keep your sheet perfectly in place, you can use a CO₂ laser to cut a simple wooden frame that holds the metal tightly.
If you don’t want to make a frame, just place a wooden board underneath your stainless steel sheet—this protects the laser bed in case the marking outline is slightly off, preventing accidental hits on the worktable.

Step 2: Prepare Your Photo for Laser Marking

Before opening your laser software, start by processing the photo. Convert it to grayscale, then adjust the curves, levels, contrast, and sharpness (You can do it with PR) to create an image with strong contrast and clear details. A well-processed image means a well-marked result.

Step 3: Import the Photo into Your Laser Software

Open your preferred laser software. Import your processed photo and position it on the canvas. Adjust the size and placement according to your sheet. Double-check your marking parameters—especially speed, power, frequency, and line interval—to ensure clarity and fine details. For the best results, you can refer to our recommended parameters and adjust them as needed to match your material and design requirements.

Step 4: Focus Your Machine

Focus is the key to success. Once focus is ignored, the results may not be satisfying. Before you start, make sure you have finished focusing.

With the Aurora Lite, you have two ways to achieve perfect focus. The first method uses the red-dot pointer to assist—simply adjust the laser head until the two red dots overlap, and you’re good to go. The second method, which is often more precise, is manual focusing with a focus stick. Adjust the height of the laser head until the focus stick just touches the surface of the material in a perfectly vertical position. Whenever possible, use manual focus for better accuracy.

Red-dot assist focus

Manual focus

Step 5: Frame the Design and Start Laser Marking

Run a framing/outline preview to confirm the marking area matches the sheet’s position. Make any necessary adjustments before starting the job. Once everything is adjusted, simply hit ‘Start’ to begin laser marking the brass belt buckle with the Aurora Lite.

Step 6: Monitor the Laser Marking Process

Keeping an eye on the machine allows you to spot unusual conditions—such as error alarms, smoke build-up, or unexpected pauses—before they become problems.

While observing, remember that the laser beam is extremely powerful. Even with the protective lid closed, avoid staring directly at the marking spot for too long. A quick glance to check progress is fine, but prolonged gazing should be avoided for safety reasons.

Step 7: Complete the laser marking

Once marking is complete, let the stainless steel sheet cool down for a moment before handling it to avoid any heat-related injuries. Then, your metal photo piece is now ready to display or gift.

Come and Try!

With the right setup, you can easily laser mark professional-quality pgotos on stainless steel. Grab a piece of 304 stainless steel, pick a meaningful photo, and try marking your first metal portrait today—you’ll be amazed by the clarity and permanence a fiber laser can achieve.