Laser Engraving Metal Business Cards | Full Guide

laser engraved business cards

Business cards are a cornerstone of professional networking. They're a tangible representation of your brand, a chance to make a lasting first impression. But in a world flooded with standard paper cards, I wanted to create something that would truly stand out among my peers. That's where laser-engraved metal business cards came in to play. Using laser engraving, I create cards that not only make a strong first impression but also shows professionalism and a hint of luxury.

Why Did I Choose Metal Business Cards?

Metal business cards are not only durable, but they have a certain elegance much like having a metal credit card. There is just something special about holding a metal card in your hand. Laser-engraved metal cards are ideal because the engraving process permanently alters the metal surface, making designs and details nearly indestructible.

How Does Laser Engraving Work?

Laser engraving uses a high-powered laser beam to mark the metal’s surface. For this task, fiber lasers are the go-to because of their ability to etch intricate designs on metals like stainless steel, aluminum, and brass. The laser vaporizes a thin layer of the metal, leaving behind a precise and clear mark.

Unlike traditional etching or embossing, laser engraving is highly accurate and allows for clean lines and even complex logos or fine text with your business name or contact.

Step-by-Step Guide to Laser Engraving Metal Business Cards

If you’re ready to take your business card game to the next level, here’s a step-by-step guide of the process. I have done countless amounts of business cards and this is my method. You might see other people doing it a different way but I think that as long as we get the same result in the end it should matter.

Now let's start.

  1. Design Your Card: You will need to start by creating a digital design that has your logo, contact info, and any other elements you might want to include. For this example I am going to just make it very simple. If you over-complicate your business card, you might turn people away from even reading what's on it.

    Programs like Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW allow you to create designs compatible with most laser engraving software. I personally use Lightburn to design any business card I plan on doing.

  2. Choose Your Laser and Settings: Fiber lasers are typically best for metal engraving, but diode lasers can also work, especially for metals like anodized aluminum. For fine details, a slower speed and lower power setting are often ideal.

    I personally run a material test on any project I plan on doing. Running a material test will let you know the best settings to use for your specific job.

  3. Prepare the Metal: Clean the surface to remove any dirt or oils. If you open a pack of new blank business cards, you might not need to do any type of prep-work.

  4. Engrave Your Design: Load the design into your laser software, position your business card, and preview the design for correct alignment.

    Then, hit start and let the laser do its work. If you need to do multiple cards all at once, you can create a jig. Here is an example of a jig that can complete up to 4 business cards at a time instead of one.

    laser engraving jig

    I have created a better and more useful jig which allows me to engrave up to 12 business cards at a time.

    laser engraving business card jig

  5. Finish and Polish: Once engraving is complete, gently clean the card’s surface with a damp rag or paper towel.

The finished product will look like the following.

multicolor business cards

Choosing the Right Laser Engraving Machine

The machine you choose depends on your needs and budget. High-powered fiber lasers, like the Monport or ComMarker models, are excellent for deep, permanent engravings on different types of metals while a machine like the Monport 6 Watt Diode Laser is great for projects that include anodized materials.

Type of laser

  • Fiber Lasers: These are best for engraving metals like stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and titanium. These machines are ideal for business cards due to their precision, speed, and ability to handle detailed designs​. Hopefully over the next couple of months I will be investing in one of these machines.

  • CO₂ Lasers: Primarily used for non-metal materials. While some CO₂ machines can mark metal with special coatings, they are not as effective or efficient for engraving raw metal surfaces​.

  • Diode Lasers: Affordable and versatile for beginners but generally not powerful enough for deep engraving on metals without added marking agents such as tempera paint or spray paint. These are however the best machine for your money if you are laser engraving anodized metals.

    I personally own two different diode lasers and I am proud to say they have kept me busy over the last couple of months. There is always some type of project that I am able to complete with them. Over the next couple of days I will be using ceramic or wood to try out some resin design I have in mind. I will update this article with a link when I am done.

Consider the Power Output of the laser

The power output of your machine will be one of the deciding factors of what materials you can easily engrave or how deep of an engraving or cut you will be able to make. You might want to invest in a higher wattage laser engraver to start with. If you are however low on cash, you can always try to use one of the lasers in the $200 or $300 range such as the WAINLUX K10 Mini Laser Engraving Machine. It comes in at less than $300 and has a 4.9/5 on google from 20 reviews so far.

Think about the Bed Size

You have to think of the types of projects you will be doing. I bought a machine that is 14.75×14.75 inches to start my engraving journey but then I also invested in a machine that has a working area of 3.93 inches x 3.93. I use both machines but they both serve a different purpose. The larger machine that I have is mainly used for engraving photographs on canvas while the smaller machine is mainly used for business cards and smaller items.

Think about cost

Laser engraving machine come in a variety of prices. Some as low as $79 and as high as over $30,000. Here is a list of just a few of the options that are available:

  • Roomark 5W Output Laser Engraver - $79.00
  • Roomark 3.5W Output Laser Engraver - $70.99
  • ACMER Laser Engraver S1 (2.5W) - $129.00
  • Mecpow X3 Laser Engraver (5W Output) - $149.99
  • IWECOLOR 5W Laser Engraver - $159.98
  • TTS-55 PRO 40W Laser Engraver - $169.99
  • VEVOR 5W Output Laser Engraver - $185.99
  • LONGER Laser Engraver Ray5 10W - $258.46
  • Official LONGER RAY5 20W Laser Engraver - $489.99
  • RAY5 20W Laser Engraver - $509.00
  • LaserPecker LP2 Laser Engraver Basic Set - $699.00
  • xTool M1 10W Laser Engraver - $999.99
  • Longer Laser B1 36W Laser Engraver Cutter - $959.99
  • xTool F1 Dual Laser Engraver - $1,499.00
  • xTool S1 40W Laser Engraver - $1,749.99
  • xTool S1 20W Laser Cutter - $1,999.99

Some of the machines on this list are very popular and have plenty of support online like in Facebook groups. One such machine is the xTool F1 20 watt which has a Facebook group with roughly 158,000 members. That's a good size group to get all the help you might need if you have any problems with your machine.

Ideas for Metal Business Card Designs

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Minimalist Design:

    Focus on clean lines, with only your name and logo engraved for a minimalist look.

  • Textured Patterns:

    Add a unique background texture or pattern to make the card pop. You can use things like roses or fancy borders to be a little different than others.

  • Incorporate Color (Optional):

    With some laser settings, you can achieve slight color variations on metals like stainless steel, giving your card a two-tone effect. This can usually only be accomplished with machines such as the Monport GQ 20W (4.3" x 4.3") Fiber Laser Engraver.

Key Benefits of Using Metal Business Cards

  • Durability
  • Memorable First Impressions
  • Customization Options
  • Environmental Impact

Top Metal Types for Business Card Engraving

  • Stainless Steel
  • Aluminum
  • Brass
  • Titanium

Essential Laser Settings for Each Metal Type

  • Stainless Steel
  • Aluminum
  • Brass
  • Copper

Design Tips for Eye-Catching Metal Business Cards

  • Go Minimalist
  • Use Negative Space
  • Incorporate Textures
  • Add Two-Tone Elements

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Metal Card Engraving

  • Using the Wrong Metal
  • Overcrowding Designs
  • Skipping Surface Cleaning
  • Choosing Low-Contrast Designs

Creative Ideas for Laser-Engraved Metal Business Cards

  • Engraved QR Codes
  • Dual-Finish Designs
  • Etched Borders or Frames
  • Raised Text or Logo Effects

Pro Tips for First-Time Laser Engravers

  • Practice on Scrap Pieces
  • Experiment with Speed and Power
  • Use Preview Mode
  • Monitor Your Machine

My Final Thoughts

I love laser engraving business cards and all the other types of anodized metals that are available. Let me know if there is anything you guys want me to go over and I will definitely make a video and article on it.

Please read some of the other article listed below.

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