Frequently Asked Questions
- What is laser-bonded art, and how is it different from laser engraved art?
- How can laser-engraved/bonded art be incorporated into a construction project?
- What materials are suitable for laser-engraving/bonding?
- Can you laser-bond color imagery onto most of the materials mentioned in the previous FAQ?
- What colors can you use in the laser-bonded process?
- What kinds of images can be laser engraved, or in the case of color images, laser-bonded?
- Who supplies the image(s) used in creating the laser-engraved/bonded art?
- What sized items can be laser-engraved/bonded?
- How does manufacturing in Montana and shipping elsewhere affect the laser-engraving/ bonding process?
- How would a typical homeowner work with LightWave Art in order to incorporate laser-engraved/bonded art in his or her project?
- What is the "rule of thumb" cost for laser-engraved/bonded art?
- What is a typical timeframe for producing laser-engraved/bonded art?
- What quality control measures does your company take to minimize the chance that customers will be disappointed by the laser-engraved/bonded artwork ultimately received?
- Who supplies the material with which your company produces laser-engraved/bonded art?
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"Laser-bonded" is a term coined by LightWave Art to describe its unique, patent-pending process for utilizing light wave energy to permanently bond color-pigmented imagery to a variety of construction materials.
To properly explain laser-bonded art, especially as it applies to the construction marketplace, it's helpful to know a bit about laser engraving technology.
Any image that can be scanned into the "brain" of our laser system can be permanently duplicated onto most materials used in residential or commercial building projects. In some cases the imagery is engraved into the material--hence the term "laser engraved" art. In other instances, color-pigmented imagery is bonded by the laser to the material--hence the term "laser bonded" art. In a sense, laser bonding is laser engraving taken to the next level.
LightWave Art's ability to produce very high-resolution imagery, in monochrome or full color, creates virtually unlimited design possibilities: ones that can turn ordinary building elements into extraordinary works of art.
For example, we can take a photograph of a bighorn sheep perched atop a Montana mountainside and scan that imagery into our laser, reproducing the image onto a grouping of ceramic tiles. Those particular tiles, when installed as part of a tiled floor, give that floor an artistic dimension it wouldn't otherwise have.
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There are broad applications for laser-engraved/bonded art in a residential or commercial setting. Going from room to room, you could cite endless examples.
In a kitchen, you could create a custom tile backsplash behind a cook top, or images on cabinet doors and any glass inserts, or innovative inlaid engravings on a granite countertop.
In a living room, laser engraved images could be incorporated into the glass doors of a fireplace, the panels of a walnut front door, or a multi-hardwood mural accenting an expansive oak floor.
In a bathroom, artistic imagery could grace a tempered glass shower door and complement other engraved images on the shower enclosure or floor.
This leads to two important points: (a) laser-engraving/bonding allows you to extend an artistic theme throughout the elements in a room, or an entire house; (b) whatever your imagination can conceive, you can permanently recreate with laser-engraved/bonded art.
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Stone, marble, granite, slate, tile, limestone, glass, mirror, stainless steel, and anodized aluminum are all candidates for laser engraving. As a general rule, the harder the material, the better the results. This is why we recommend using hard materials--black granite, marble, even glass--over softer woods if we're working with high-resolution images involving great detail. By the way, this is not to suggest that most hardwoods won't allow for near-photographic quality imagery when laser engraved; they will!
Soft materials, or ones that conduct heat very well, like copper, are not appropriate for laser engraving or color bonding. Neither are materials with rough surfaces, where variation exceeds one-tenth of an inch.
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Yes! Our patent pending, laser-bonding process permanently binds color pigments onto most materials like tile, marble, limestone, glass, and mirror. Prior to our technological breakthrough, applying color pigments to these surfaces was limited to an artist's airbrush or a process called dye-sublimation for tiles. These alternatives were inadequate for high-resolution (detailed) images, lacked durability, and were not suitable for outside use.
Our laser-color-bonding process produces products that are highly durable, fade and stain resistant, designed for foot traffic, compatible with pH-neutral cleaners, and comes with a five-year warranty.
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At this time, we can reproduce most shades in the color spectrum, and anticipate making all color variations available to clients in the not-too-distant future.
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As previously mentioned, any image that can be scanned can be laser engraved or laser-bonded. The source of the scanned image may be a photograph, a digital image, or a favorite artist's rendering. Copyrighted material can only be used with a release from its owner.
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The image(s) can come from the end user of the artwork, the construction professional(s) representing the end user, or from LightWave Art's library of images.
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Currently, we can laser-engrave or laser-bond items up to 40 inches by 30 inches.
It's important to note that most laser engraved/bonding artwork in the construction marketplace, even large murals, consists of individual pieces smaller than 40 inches by 30 inches. Laser engraving smaller sections that are then inlaid in the final product can accommodate oversized items--for example, front doors and countertops.
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Like most companies that manufacture in one locale and ship worldwide, our company places a premium on proper packaging, so that our insured products arrive undamaged.
Our products are usually shipped by USPS Priority Mail, with larger pieces being shipped by UPS.
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The first step for the homeowner is to consult with the nearest dealer regarding the desired materials and artistic imagery. The dealer would then contact us, and we would work with that dealer on the technical aspects of the project.
Once the project is manufactured, we'd ship it to the dealer, who will assist you with the installation.
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Typically, cost is somewhere in the range of $135-$155 per square foot. The size of the job and the time required to engineer the image ultimately determine the cost.
In all instances, LightWave Art will provide the customer with an exact price quotation prior to commencing work.
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Customer-supplied images may require a little or a lot of engineering work. Given that variable, the time from when a customer "signs off" on an image until the production of the artwork is usually 10-14 days (shipping time not included).
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Prior to LightWave Art's doing a full-scale project, we provide customers with a small-scale sample or an exact photo-mock-up of what they'll be getting. LightWave Art manufactures only what a customer pre-approves.
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The LightWave Art dealer will advise the customer concerning this judgment call. If the dealer specifies the exact material to be used and prefers that LightWave Art supply the material, we can provide this additional service.
If, as an alternative, the dealer wishes to "cherry pick" certain materials and ship them to LightWave Art, that's fine too.
