PHOTO PREPARATION GUIDE · RASTERGO
Preparing a photo for acrylic engraving
Updated October 2026 · Free browser tool · photos stay on your device
Engraved acrylic shows a frosted, lighter mark, so darker areas of your photo carry most of the visible detail. Prepare at final size, keep contrast high, and confirm your material type before running any test.
Cast versus extruded
Cast acrylic typically engraves to a frosted white finish, while extruded acrylic tends to stay clearer and can melt more easily. Because the result depends on the sheet you actually have, identify the material before you prepare settings.
Preparation steps
- Set the physical size and DPI.
- Increase contrast: the frosted mark is a narrow tonal range.
- Mirror the image if you are engraving the reverse side, which is common for a glossy front face.
- Remove the protective film only where needed and test on an offcut.
Honest limits
RasterGo exports a PNG at the size and tone mapping you choose. It does not know your sheet, your lens or your focus. Any setting for acrylic has to come from a test on your own machine.
RasterGo prepares image files in your browser. Material previews are labelled digital simulations, not photographs of engraved pieces, and no power, speed or physical result is promised.