How to Engrave a Photo on Marble

Engraving an image onto marble enhances the stone's inherent beauty.

Engraving a photograph on marble creates a remembrance that could last for decades. Because of marble's hardness it is often used for engraved monuments. Artisans have used chisels for thousands of years to cut into the surface of marble. Now, hobbyists can engrave marble using rotary tools with diamond coated-bits.

Things You'll Need

• Digital photo image file
• Photo editing software
• Latex paint
• Paint brush
• Masking or painter's tape
• Rotary tool
• Flexible shaft attachment for rotary tool
• Chisel (optional)
• Diamond-coated bits
• Buffing bits
• Vice
• Safety glasses
• Painter's mask
• Workshop vacuum cleaner

Instructions

Preparing the Photo

1. Open the photo file in photo-editing software such as Adobe Photoshop Elements (PSE) or the free software app PhotoFiltre (PhF).

2. Press "CTRL+U" to bring up the "Hue and Saturation" menu in PSE, or "Adjust," "Hue/Saturation" in PhotoFiltre. Move the "Saturation" slider all the way to the left completely remove the color of the photo.

3. Click "Enhance," "Adjust Lighting," "Brightness/Contrast" in PSE or "Adjust," "Brightness/Contrast" in PhotoFiltre. Move the "Contrast" slider to the right to increase the contrast.

4. Save the photo. Press "Ctrl+Alt+I" in PSE or "Ctrl+H" in PhotoFiltre to bring up the resizing menu. Increase or decrease it to fit the project. Re-save under a different file name if wished. Print it out on plain white, medium-weight paper.

Preparing the Stone

1. Paint the marble surface with a flat, light-colored latex paint and allow it to dry completely. Refer to manufacturer's details for drying times.

2. Lay the photo printout on the marble and tape is down with masking or painter's tape. Do not use duct tape or cellophane tape; they will leave deposits of adhesive on the stone.

3. Use a pencil with a sharp, hard lead (hardness rating of HB or higher) to trace the lines of the photo onto the painted surface of the marble. Press hard enough to make an impression in the paint on the marble. You will probably scratch through the paper in places, but this should not be a problem. Remove the photo print and touch up the image on the paint.

4. Scratch the image onto the marble with a hard point of a metal tool such as a chisel or a precision drill bit. Carefully follow the pencil impression that you made in the paint, and always wear your safety glasses when modifying stone and make sure the scratched lines are visible on the surface.

5. Wash the paint off of the surface of the marble using plain water. Dry the stone surface completely with a soft cloth or hair dryer.

Engraving the Photo Image

1. Attach the flexible shaft attachment to your rotary tool according to the manufacturer's instructions. Insert a thin bit into the shaft and tighten well. Clamp the rotary tool into a vice. If you are using a standard workshop vice, pad it with a layer of cloth to protect the rotary tool.

2. Attach the intake hose of your workshop vacuum to your work table. Turn the vacuum on and adjust the position of the nozzle so that stone dust is continuously sucked into the vacuum as you work. Brush extra dust from your work surface towards the vacuum nozzle as you work.

3. Turn the rotary tool on and set the speed to medium or high. Carefully "draw" along the lines of the image by incising with the diamond rotary bit. Go slowly at first until you are familiar with the amount of stone that is being removed. Use short, gentle strokes and wear your painter's mask as you work.

4. Engrave areas of shading in the direction that the light appears to be shining as you would paint the image with a brush on canvas. For example, if the light in the image appears to be coming from the top, engrave those areas lightly at the top of the area and with a heavier, deeper line at the bottom of the area. Change tips according to the area of the image on which you are working. Use a thin tip for narrow lines. Use a cylindrical tip for larger or heavier shaded sections and conical tips for smaller or lighter sections.

5. Wash all remaining dust and paint from the surface with a mild ph-neutral dish detergent and dry it thoroughly with a soft cloth. Polish and buff the surface of the marble with a buffing bit on the rotary tool. Apply a marble sealant and a thin coat of marble polish to finish.

Tips & Warnings

• Cushion your elbow with a pillow or against your body to steady your hand while working on large areas. Stop and rest regularly

• Do not use vinegar to clean marble. Marble is porous and relatively soft for stone. Acidic substances like vinegar can dissolve the surface of the marble, leaving it etched.

References

• Bricks R Us: Marble Engraving
• Geology.com: Marble
• Flooring Guide: Stone

Resources

• Softonic: PhotoFiltre
• Dremel Tools: Tutorials