Laser etching is an elegant way to add pattern and texture to your leather. Designers have used etched leather for ottomans, seating, headrests in private aircraft, wall coverings in hotels, and more. Etched designs may include detailed images, geometric patterns, logos and branding, words, or just about anything that your imagination can create.

What is Laser Etching?

Laser etching is a process that uses lasers to singe designs onto the surface of leather. The singed areas can vary in size, color and thickness, depending on the artwork and the type of leather used. Laser etching  exposes the lower layers of the hide, which creates a suede-like texture. The fibers of the leather respond differently to the lasers. As a result, laser etching provides unique patterns, added texture, and varying color throughout the hide.

Avion Beechnut etched with map of Chicago designed by KOO LLC

How is Etching Done?

Laser etching begins with artwork. We require line-drawing artwork, which you may provide as a vector file or PDF. The artwork you provide may be a repeated pattern that covers the entire surface of the hide. Or, it may include a smaller area, such as a logo, graphic, or a few words. Regardless of the type of artwork, it is important to consider the size and scale for your application. For smaller etched areas, we also need to know where the graphic should be positioned on the leather.

Once you finalize the artwork and select the leather, we provide our vendor with the leather hides and detailed instructions. The vendor scans the leather and uses CAD software to plot the artwork provided on the area of the hide per your specifications. Once the machine is programmed with the proper size and position of the artwork, lasers precisely follow the line drawing and singe the design onto the surface of the hide.

What Sizes Are Available?

The bed of the etching machine can accommodate half hide sizes, which average between 20 and 25 square feet. If you require larger pieces for wall coverings or over-sized furniture, we can cut a center piece of leather from a full hide. The maximum size for etching is 50 x 70".

What Are My Options for Leather Finishes and Colors?

You may select almost any of our collections for etching with a few exceptions. We have hundreds of leather colors in a variety of finishes, including distressed, metallic, pull-up, pearl, and more. The lead time for etching is 4 to 6 weeks from receipt of purchase order.

If you would like to consider using etched leather for your next project, please contact your local Account Executive or send us an email. We'd love to work with you!