How is this done?

[EngravedGiftsUK]

I saw this product on Etsy and I'd love to make something similar. The listing talks about laser engraving but I don't think that's how this is done. Or is it? Is it a cut and inlay job? In which case it would be extremely time consuming, some of the letters are so small. My diode laser certainly can't achieve that level of precision, most of the small details such as the insides of the letters "o" and "a" would be obliterated. There would also be a lot of scorch marks which are not visible here. Can a CO2 laser achieve this? Would it even be worth the time for a £40 box?
I also thought of sticker cutouts but some of the writing is too small for that to be possible, not without going mad in the process. Any ideas?

il_1140xN.5279792631_7fw5.jpg (231.48 KiB) Viewed 289 times

[EngravedGiftsUK]

Thank you, brilliant and very detailed answer. I only have a budget laser (Sculpfun S9). I'm pretty much a complete beginner, CO2 lasers are way out of my budget for now anyway. But your method sounds really interesting so I'll definitely experiment with larger designs.

[EngravedGiftsUK]

Thanks again for the advice and yes if my business goes as well as I hope, next year I'll look into xTool for upgrading.

[sue_ram]

It sounds like the product you're referring to could be created using a CO2 laser, which can achieve the precision needed for small details like the inside of letters without obliterating them. The Monport CO2 laser would be a great option for this type of work—it’s easy to use, high quality, and affordable. It offers the precision needed for small engraving details and can help avoid scorch marks, unlike some diode lasers.

You should definitely consider checking out the Monport laser product here: https://monportlaser.com?sca_ref=5031521.ka374VZjm3. It's a solid choice for intricate engraving projects like yours!