Color Fill vs LaserLights on Acrylic

[Ross Moshinsky]

I don't like painting. In my opinion it's too time consuming and hard to get right. If you get it wrong, it's hard to fix the mistake.

Why not just apply black vinyl on the back of the acrylic? Or, cut some black plastic and insert that into the acrylic? Both will achieve the same result. It will cost a bit more in materials but save a lot of time.

Every time I attempt to paint, I'm frustrated by the result. I know I can do it, but is it really worth the time and the effort when so many options are out there that look just as nice and don't cause me a headache?

[Liesl Dexheimer]

Well I think I'm going to give up on color filling. I tried another piece with blue Krylon Fusion spray paint. I also change the settings slightly, 100 power, 30 speed. It still didn't come out right. Ugh! I cut out letters using LaserLights and applied them on the acrylic instead, came out much better. Now I'm trying to figure out what to charge...

[Dan Hintz]

Liesl,

Are you sure any dust from the engraving process was removed from the etched area? The paint will attach itself to any junk left over and eventually fall out.

[Viktor Voroncov]

In this case vinyl letters will be cheaper than LaserLights. And with vinyl will be possibility apply from back side of acryl if necessary.
But be honest, I always have quality problems when working with paints May be my hands grew slightly not from proper place

[Liesl Dexheimer]

Liesl,

Are you sure any dust from the engraving process was removed from the etched area? The paint will attach itself to any junk left over and eventually fall out.

I can't guarantee it but I did use a vacuum with a brush attached to it and went over it a few times. I also used a damp paper towel and tried to clean out any remaining residue. It looked clean but after I spray painted it and let it dry, it the paint in the letters appeared to be cracked.

I have a feeling paint-filling isn't all it's "cracked" up to be, lol!

I wish I could use vinyl letters but we aren't a sign shop and don't have a vinyl plotter.

[Rodne Gold]

Paint filling is a snap if you use a flood fill method without a mask , however large area paint filling is not quite as easy and you have started off with a large area fill.
The key is to use methylated spirits as clean up as it does not ruin the sheen of the paint in large letters and wont scoop away the paint in the middle like thinners will,
You can also try black gilders paste (like rub n buff) and use turps to remove excess , this will also work.
Best acrylic for back filling is extruded and not cast as it engraves clear and not frosted

[Jeremy Brown]

I do alot of color filling with spray paints/airbrush. I have tried using actual color fill from lasterbits and I hate the results.

Like everyone has said above, making sure the surface is clean from dust is a must.

When I engrave and plant to paint fill. I use the Green painter's tape (scotch brand). I mask the entire engraving area and make sure its pressed firmly down(textured material) and engrave through the paint and into the material. The tape also allows me to do a very light engraving on the tape only to make sure I have everything positioned.

after painting I remove the tape and clean up with a dry tooth brush

Our machine is mostly used for engraving things into radio housings, so 80 percent of the time, I am engraving into plastic and paint filling.

[John Noell]

With those solvents you almost sure to have issues.
We flood fill the engraving with automotive paint , undiluted.

Rodney, is your automotive paint water-based? (We don't have any of that here.) When I flooded the engraving with our automotive paint I got stress cracks.

[Rodne Gold]

I use water based for clear acrylic and normal for coloured when filling , I use mainly cast so stress cracking is not so much of an issue.
I often do this as well if I need colour and small reverse frosted engraving : Apply coloured vinyl and kiss cut with the laser , engrave the frosted bits and weed away the vinyl for the "colour" fill.