View Full Version : B/W Photo Help
Daniel Muller
03-09-2009, 9:12 AM
I am trying to get these pics to etch onto anodized aluminum. I work for hours last night and couldn't get them right. Can someone help me with this. I tried photograv and not using phoyograv but to no avail.
Dan
Dan Hintz
03-09-2009, 9:43 AM
The first pic needs some serious contrast enhancement, the second one would turn out better with a bit of contrast work, as well, but it's not nearly as bad. For the second one, I would consider trying to get a proper grayscale image to get rid of the Sepia tones first.
I don't know what the drivers are like for the Epilogs, but I've never purchased/used PhotoGrav for my ULS and I'm making pictures just fine. Aluminum is typically thought of as a single-level substrate... the dot is either on or off, which requires a dithering algorithm for gray levels (compared to marble which can handle multiple levels of power to get a true grayscale).
I personally would step back from PG and try it manually (of course, you'll want to follow your manual's procedure for tuning the system to a particular substrate... I did nothing all day yesterday but tuning for marble). Go grayscale, set the contrast, sharpen a few notches, set the dpi for what you intend to engrave at (aluminum can handle a fairly high resolution, 500-600dpi without issue), and resize your image. Send it to the laser with an appropriate dithering algorithm selected and see if that alone doesn't give you a decent pic.
Mike Null
03-09-2009, 10:34 AM
I would repair the damage on the second one before I attempted any other adjustments.
James Stokes
03-09-2009, 11:03 AM
One thing I have found with engaving photos on anodized aluminum you need to use a low power. If you use to strong on your power settings you will never get it right. On my 35 watt laser I use a power setting around 20. As for the Sepia toned photograph, I have never had much luck with them. I worked on one last thursday all day and could never get it right.
Tim Bateson
03-09-2009, 12:29 PM
I agree with those above. These first need to be converted to true B&W photos, then adjusted for engraving.
George Brown
03-09-2009, 12:52 PM
I am trying to get these pics to etch onto anodized aluminum. I work for hours last night and couldn't get them right. Can someone help me with this. I tried photograv and not using phoyograv but to no avail.
Dan
Try this. If anyone wants to correct me, feel free.
Frank Corker
03-09-2009, 1:16 PM
I've sent you a pm regarding this.
Daniel Muller
03-09-2009, 9:54 PM
george,
what did you do to this photo?
Dan
George Brown
03-09-2009, 10:16 PM
george,
what did you do to this photo?
Dan
Converted to 8-bit gray scale
Reduced tonal range
Increased contrast
Burned in the tower
How did it engrave, if you tried it?
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