# How do they make those 3D laser-etched paperweights?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-make-those-3d-laser-etched-paperweights/278170>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 5, 2004, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-make-those-3d-laser-etched-paperweights/278170 "2004-12-05T05:11:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-make-those-3d-laser-etched-paperweights/278170/1 "2004-12-05T05:11:05Z")

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[Like this one](http://www.morethanagiftonline.co.uk/crystal/laser%20crystal%20wolves.htm)

If you haven’t seen them, these are intricate, full 3D figures that appear to float inside a block of crystal. When lit from below, they appear almost holographic.

I know lasers are used, but I can’t grasp how 3D figure is created inside a solid block of glass. How can a laser be focussed to create a point of opacity? Wouldn’t the beam pass through all parts of the glass equally?

Anybody know more about how this is done?

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**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-make-those-3d-laser-etched-paperweights/278170/2 "2004-12-05T05:20:27Z")

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It’s done using a conical beam. The glass only gets hot enough to fracture at the “point” of the cone.

[http://www.bathsheba.com/crystal/process/](http://www.bathsheba.com/crystal/process/)