How Is a Photo Put Inside a 3D Crystal?

Your photo is placed inside a 3D crystal by sub-surface laser engraving: we prepare your image for 3D sub-surface engraving, then a focused laser etches it as many microscopic points deep inside the block. Nothing is printed on the outside surface; the image forms within the optical glass itself.

The process has three stages. First, your uploaded photo is prepared as a laser-engraving depth file that maps the subject into engraving depth. Second, a tightly focused laser fires into the crystal and creates a tiny fracture point at a precise depth; repeated many times, those points build up the image you see suspended inside. Third, the block is polished and gift-boxed.

Because the engraving sits below the surface rather than on top, it is not exposed to the surface scratching that can affect a printed layer. It also means a 3D crystal renders in clear-and-white laser points by design, not in printed color.

One practical note: laser engraving captures a finite number of points, so larger blocks hold more figures at full detail. Each size lists a recommended figure range for this reason; fitting too many faces into a small block means we engrave in 2D instead of 3D to keep everyone readable. To get the sharpest result, see what photos work best for a 3D crystal, or start your own 3D Crystal Photo Block.