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How to Get Started With Laser Metal Art

Lasers can create engravings on metal, glass and other surfaces that are nearly as intricately detailed as a photograph. Lasers can also be used to cut pieces of metal into finely detailed flat sculptures. It is a specialized medium for art, though, and the actual process of doing artwork with lasers is simpler than getting access to a laser you can regularly use to create your art. As beautiful as laser designs can be, it is also a limited art form - difficult to use in anything other than a flat format.

Instructions

- 1
  Buy a laser engraving system, if you can afford it. Laser engraving systems start at about $10,000 and can easily reach five times that amount for a top-quality system. Computers are critical to directing laser engravers, particularly for the most complex designs. If you are an artist in other media, you can draw a logo or sketch by hand, scan it into the computer, and then use the laser to etch it into metal or another surface.
- 2
  Get a job at a large print company or trophy company that specializes in laser engraving. If you cannot afford the initial investment required to get a laser engraving machine, this can get you familiarized with the computers, scanners, machines and materials required to successfully create laser art. Make sure to express your interest in laser art up front. Ideally, you want to be in a position to both do the work that the company accepts and experiment with different techniques with the laser machine.
- 3
  Apply for admission to an art school that includes laser art or to a technical laser art specialty school. This will entail some cost, but will give you a solid basis in how the machines are used while giving you a chance to experiment with different techniques. For the better schools, a background in art is required in addition to the fees and tuition.

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