Recently, the film world has been waiting with bated breath to see if one man finally had his dreams realised by winning his first—and well-deserved—Academy Award. Leonardo DiCaprio, evolving from teenage heart-throb to gritty indestructible hero, finally held high the Oscar he achieved from struggling through icy terrains in The Revenant, much to the celebration of fans worldwide, who had been clamouring for his official recognition.
Though of course winning an Oscar is much more than the physical award itself, it is the image of this revered industry victor holding tight to that iconic golden statuette that will stay with audiences a lot longer than his new moniker, ‘Best Actor 2016’, and his name engraved on the plaque beneath will stand proud long after DiCaprio is gone.
It is undeniable that the etching or engraving of names and images onto materials is something that resonates very deeply with us, from youngsters carving their initials into trees to mark their presence at a certain time, to CEOs proudly displaying their names in brass plaques fixed to their office doors. Despite, and perhaps because of, our steady movement into an era of digital transience, the desire to ‘make our mark’ is no less strong. The solidity and permanence of etched and engraved materials is one that birthed an intrinsic branch of the sign-making industry, and has kept it fine fettle since the dawn of civilisation.
It is true that the engraving industry used to span many more applications than signage. Traditional printing presses (and some more modern equipment) required etched metal plates from which to reproduce the first printed pictures and engraved type/lettering to generate books and newspapers. Additionally, the art world flourished with its use of etched wood and metal, with artists like Hogarth, and earlier Greek and Roman engravers finding much fame in their skilled hand-engraved works.
Yet the world moves on, and while digital printing and digital design have taken hold, there is still somehow a great commercial demand for engraved and etched products. That is not to say the technology, techniques, and products of this ancient craft have remained in the dark ages, as Peter Kettle, business development manager at Roland DG is adamant about: “The engraving industry has emerged as a remarkably creative one that can open a world of possibilities to professionals across the country. Whether producing plaques and signs or creating personalised corporate gifts, when using the right tools, there are huge opportunities to thrive.
“I don’t believe adopting engraving is returning to what might be considered old fashioned. Instead, we are utilising the latest software and PC capabilities to deliver new levels of complexity through a tried and tested technology.”
Making your mark
Bolstered by technological advances, the engraving market is branching into many areas that sign-makers may not have considered before.
Kettle has noticed many new applications emerging as sign-makers put their equipment to the test. For example, he says: “The trend we are seeing recently is engraving multi-level rigid signs, which are as much about art as they are delivering information—nearly bordering on sculptures! Modern engraving design programs are very advanced in their capabilities, meaning that even novice engraving professionals are able to produce remarkable items with the right software.”
Web: http://us.hanslaser.net
HAN'S LASER CORP.
2220 O'Toole Ave,San Jose, CA 95131
Phone: (+1) 408-774-9428
Fax: (+1) 669-900-4570
Email: laser@hanslaser.com
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