Brilliance Laser Inks
Settings Guide &
Recommendations
Choose your laser type, enter your machine wattage, and instantly get scaled power and speed settings for every material.
Open calculator
Scroll
1
Choose your laser type
Click your machine below — Diode, CO2, or Fiber
→
2
Enter your wattage
Type your machine's actual wattage in the "My machine" field
→
3
Read the results
See adjusted Power %, Speed, and recommended product in the table below
Select your laser machine
Settings calculator
Fiber laser notes:
- Test grids generated on a 20W fiber laser — scale power & speed to your machine wattage.
- If your max Q-frequency is below 400 kHz, set it to maximum and adjust power/speed accordingly.
- "Q Frequency" and "Frequency" refer to the same setting on most fiber laser machines.
- Ensure frequency is displayed in kHz for accuracy.
Filter by material
The test grid helps you identify the optimal power and speed combination for your machine and material. Darker, crisper squares indicate better settings.
Click the image to enlarge
| Material | Power | Speed | Passes | DPI / Freq. | Line Interval | Product |
|---|
No materials match the selected filter.
Application instructions
1
Clean the surface with isopropyl alcohol to remove all dirt and oils. Ensure the surface is completely dry before proceeding.
2
Shake the can well before use. Hold at a 45° angle, 6–8 inches from the surface. Apply left-to-right in a thin, even coat for metals. Apply a thick coat for ceramics and glass.
3
Dry fully using a hair dryer or heat gun. Drying takes about 2–3 minutes naturally, or seconds with heat. Ensure the entire layer is dry.
4
Turn off air assist before engraving — airflow can blow the ink off the surface. Keep exhaust on to remove fumes. Engrave using the recommended settings for your laser and material.
5
Rinse under tap water or wipe with a wet cloth immediately after engraving. No waiting time required.
1
Clean the surface with isopropyl alcohol. Ensure it is completely dry.
2
Weigh and mix — use a 1:1 ratio by weight (powder : denatured alcohol) for brush application. For spray gun or Preval, use a 1:2 ratio.
3
Apply with a brush in a left-to-right motion, creating a thin even coat. Apply a thick coat for ceramics and glass.
4
Dry fully with a heat gun. Ensure the entire layer is dry before engraving.
5
Engrave with recommended settings, then rinse with water. Mixed powder can be reused — store with lid closed tightly and fully submerged in solvent.
1
Clean the surface with isopropyl alcohol. Ensure it is completely dry.
2
Fill the bottle with denatured alcohol up to the first line marker on the label for brush application, or the second line for spray application. Shake or stir well.
3
Apply evenly — use a brush or convert the bottle to spray using a Preval spray system. Apply thin coat for metals, thick coat for ceramics and glass.
4
Dry fully — ensure the entire layer is dry before engraving. Use a heat gun to speed up the process.
5
Engrave with recommended settings, then rinse with water. No waiting time required.
Do's & Don'ts
Do — Best practices
Always clean the surface with isopropyl alcohol before applying.
Run a test grid first on scrap material before committing to a production run.
Keep the exhaust on while laser marking to remove fumes and debris.
Apply a thick coat for ceramics and glass — until the surface is completely opaque.
Rinse off excess ink with water after engraving to reveal a clean, permanent mark.
Shake the container thoroughly before every use to ensure proper pigment suspension.
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to maintain stability and shelf life.
Don't — Common mistakes
Don't turn on air assist — strong airflow blows the ink coating off the surface.
Don't overspray on metals — a thin uniform coat is sufficient for metals.
Don't engrave without drying — wet ink produces weak, inconsistent marks.
Don't use settings that are too fast — high speeds result in faint or incomplete marks.
Don't skip the test grid — every machine behaves differently.
Don't use on coated surfaces — paint, powder coat, or anodizing prevents ink from reaching the base metal.
Don't use crosshatch fill patterns on fiber lasers — use 0° straight lines only.
Do — Diode laser best practices
Use maximum power (85–100%) — diode lasers need full power for good marks on metals.
Use slow speeds (400–700 mm/min) — slower speeds compensate for lower energy output.
Set DPI to 350–500 and line interval to 0.085 mm for dense, even coverage on metals.
Use BLI404ABAS for aluminum — specifically formulated for aluminum surfaces.
Don't — Diode laser mistakes
Don't run at low power — diode lasers need high power to transfer enough energy for permanent bonding.
Don't use speeds above 700 mm/min on metals — insufficient dwell time.
Don't skip drying — wet ink causes beam scattering on diode lasers producing uneven marks.
Do — CO2 laser best practices
Set speed to 20–70 mm/s — the sweet spot confirmed by test grids.
Use 50–100% power for metals — full power range produces good marks with slow speed.
Test at 80% power first — usually the best starting point for CO2 on most metals.
Use BLI201MRAS for stainless steel if you want a red/copper tone finish.
Don't — CO2 laser mistakes
Don't set speed above 100 mm/s — marks above 80 mm/s are significantly lighter.
Don't use power below 40% — produces marks too faint or not bonded at all.
Don't use air assist — it will blow off the ink coating mid-engrave.
⚠ Do not ignore contaminated optics — risk of lens burn — debris on a CO2 lens can permanently crack or shatter it. Clean optics before every session.
Do — Fiber laser best practices
Set power to 10% of max wattage — confirmed starting point for best results.
Set speed to 50 mm/s — sufficient dwell time to fully bond the ink.
Set Q-Frequency to 80–200 kHz for aluminum and 200–500 kHz for stainless steel.
Use 0° straight-line fill only — 0° with 0.1 mm line spacing for most even coverage.
Don't — Fiber laser mistakes
Don't use crosshatch fill — the most common fiber laser mistake, causes uneven bonding.
Don't set power too high — burns through or removes the ink coating.
Don't use air assist — always disable when using Brilliance Laser Inks.
Don't skip calibration — verify focus distance before each session.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the black spray look white when I apply it?
Our black spray cans appear white when applied to metal — this is completely normal. The white coating reacts with the laser beam to produce a permanent pure-black mark.
Are the markings permanent?
Yes. Marks made with Brilliance Laser Inks are designed to be permanent and highly durable. In most cases, it is impossible to remove the mark without physically machining the surface.
What colors are available?
Currently, Brilliance Laser Inks specializes in Black and Red (Copper Tone) markings for metals. The team is actively developing a broader color palette.
Can I reuse mixed powder?
Yes — any mixed powder product can be reused as long as the lid is kept tightly closed and the powder remains fully submerged in the solvent. Stir before each use and add a few drops of alcohol to compensate for evaporation.
What is the shelf life of the aerosol spray?
The aerosol spray has a shelf life of approximately one year. Powder products have a longer shelf life when stored sealed in a cool, dry place.
Does your product work on plastic?
Laser marking sprays and powders work on metals, ceramics, and glass — not on plastic surfaces. For plastic marking, Brilliance Laser Inks offers LaZact additives compatible with Fiber and YAG laser systems.
Does Brilliance Laser Inks work with low-watt diode lasers?
Yes! Our products are compatible with diode lasers from as low as 10 watts. Use maximum power and slower speeds for best bond strength.
What are the recommended settings for a 40W diode laser?
Our reference test grids for Diode are based on a Creality 40W diode laser at 254 DPI with speed in mm/min. Use the settings calculator above to scale to your machine.
Why is my diode mark faint or not adhering well?
Most common causes: (1) ink not fully dry, (2) power too low or speed too fast, (3) laser not focused correctly, (4) air assist is on. Check all four before adjusting power/speed.
What is the speed unit for diode laser settings?
Our diode laser test grids use mm/min (millimeters per minute). To convert to mm/s, divide by 60.
What wattage CO2 laser is recommended?
A minimum of 25–30 watts is recommended. Our reference test grids are based on an 80W CO2 laser. Use the wattage calculator to scale settings for your machine.
Should I use air assist with my CO2 laser?
No — turn off air assist when engraving with our products. Keep your exhaust/fume extractor on — that is different and still necessary.
Can CO2 lasers mark aluminum?
Yes — use either the BLI101MBAS (Universal Black Metal) or the BLI404ABAS (Black Aluminum, formulated specifically for aluminum). BLI404ABAS tends to perform better on a wider range of aluminum grades.
What is the minimum wattage for a fiber laser?
A minimum of 10 watts is recommended. Our reference test grids are based on a 20W fiber laser.
What is Q-frequency and how does it affect results?
Q-frequency controls how many laser pulses are fired per second, measured in kHz. Our reference settings use 200 kHz. Higher frequency generally produces smoother, more even marks.
Why are my fiber laser marks coming out uneven?
Common causes: (1) ink not fully dry, (2) air assist is on, (3) frequency too low, (4) focus is off, (5) inconsistent coating. Check each systematically.
Disclaimer
Important — Please read before use
Settings are general guidelines only. The recommended power, speed, and DPI values provided on this page are starting points based on reference tests conducted with specific laser machines and substrate grades. Your actual results will vary.
Always test on scrap material first. Before committing to a production run, always perform a material test grid on a scrap piece of the same material.
Permanent marks cannot be removed. Once correctly applied, marks made with Brilliance Laser Inks products are permanent and cannot be removed without physically machining (sanding) the surface.
Food safety. FDA approval must be obtained independently by each manufacturer. Compliance with food safety regulations is the sole responsibility of the end-user.
For technical assistance, contact [email protected] or call 609-534-7008 / 609-534-7009. Live support is available Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm EST.
Important disclaimer
Settings are general guidelines only. Your actual results will vary depending on your laser machine brand, model, wattage, calibration, and material grade. Always test on scrap first.
