Tips for Engraving Leatherette

Tips for Engraving Leatherette

Tips for Working with Leatherette: 

Critical: Do a materials test before you engrave or cut the leatherette.

Link to blog article: Materials Tests and the Materials Library


Tips for Materials Tests on Leatherette

    • Turn AIR OFF while engraving.
    • Use the correct line interval for engraving — Bolt / Odin / Nova Plus / Titan: .06, Nova glass tube: .08. This will automatically adjust the lines per inch as well.

Note: If you have adhesive on the back, it's harder to cut through than the material alone — make sure adhesive is on the back when running your materials cut test. (AIR ON for cutting.)

Rawhide brown faux leatherette with a materials test done on a 30w Thunder Laser Bolt laser

Once the materials test is done,

    • Choose your settings from the grid. It's best to pick one of the lower numbers in the grid, since darker engraves tend to leave more soot to wash off. 

In this case, somewhere between 375 speed / 15 power and 525 speed / 20 power usually works best.

Before engraving an entire sheet of patches or labels, 

    • Engrave one or two pieces first at a lower setting to confirm you're getting the result you want.
    • Clean smoke marks off using LA Awesome (the best option) and a microfiber cloth.
    • Note: Many leatherettes share similar materials settings, but colors with gold or silver underneath will vary more than the solid color or black-under options.


Tips for Adding Heat Adhesive to Leatherette:

  • Add parchment paper on top of your leatherette and cover top surface of your Leatherette before you apply heat. This will prevent discoloration from the heat and prevent any melted adhesive from getting on your heat press
  • To attach adhesive: Most colors require 160 C / 320 F for 10-seconds 
  • Use a lower temperature for reflective materials such as silver, holographic gold etc (120 C / 248 F) for 10-15 seconds.

We sell 2 types of adhesive 


Frequently asked questions about Laserable Leatherette

What types of leatherette sheets do you offer?
A range of textures and thicknesses — soft, textured, and smooth finishes, plus carbon fiber, cork, and more. Available in 0.8mm (no backing), 1.2mm foam backing, and 1.8mm foam backing. Felt backing and glow-in-the-dark options can be special ordered.

Are leatherette sheets suitable for laser engraving?
Yes — they engrave cleanly with precise, high-contrast results, making them ideal for custom projects.

Can I buy a sample first?
Yes, samples (3.5"x5") are available on each product page so you can test before committing to a full sheet. We sell sample packs as well.

How do I clean engraved leatherette?
A cleaner like LA's Totally Awesome with a microfiber cloth works well. Always run a materials test first — over burning makes cleanup harder, especially on lighter colors.

Do you have more colors or sizes than what's shown?
Yes — full Standard, Matte, and Denim collection catalogues are available as downloadable PDFs. If a color isn't on the site, it can be pre-ordered by emailing inquiries@locallasersupply.ca.


If you don't see the color you want on our site, we can pre-order you some!  inquiries@locallasersupply.ca    

What laser settings should I use?
All sheets are tested on a 30w RF Thunder Laser Bolt. For other machine wattages, use a settings chart or run a Materials Test in LightBurn. Use low/no air for engraving, and to reduce smoke spots, turn air assist on ~15 seconds before engraving starts

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