Category: Melissa’s Blog

We often get asked to engrave items that they have bought somewhere else.  Many times it is something that we don’t sell here including a fishing lure, bamboo salad bowl, leather horse tack, cabinet doors, pie servers.  The laser engravers can mark acrylic, crystal, fabric, glass, granite, leather, marble, metal – painted or bare, paper, silicone, wood and some plastics.  We utilize resources that advise us on how to engrave many items from cork yoga blocks and wooden clothing hangers.  The laser is the most versatile machine in our lineup. 

We also have an engraver that can mark non-laserable surfaces.  It uses a diamond tip to make its mark.  Additionally, we imprint many scrapbooks and bibles with our embosser.  If you have a special request, come in or give us a call to see what we can do to help. 

One of our lesser-known personalization methods is imprinting – also known as embossing.  The process uses heat and pressure with a metal die to press into the material.  Many people think that it is the same as engraving but the embossing process presses the fibers and engraving actually takes away the surface layer.  We can also press a foil into the material.  We have gold and silver metallic as well as blue, light blue, pink, purple, red, teal, rose, green, white, gray and black.  In addition to lettering, we have some stock designs and can order custom logo dies. 

Materials we can imprint are Paper, Leather, Vinyl, Wood and Plastic.  Whether you have a scrapbook, portfolio, bible, ribbons, framing matte boards, Christmas cards, pencils, photos and even napkins, we can imprint to celebrate your event/victories in life.  The imprinter is at our Lyndon location but items can be ordered/dropped off in Manhattan for imprinting.  Give us a call at 785-217-5701 or email sales@jmlengraving.com. 

What is sublimation?

In scientific terms, Sublimation is the transition of a substance directly from a solid state to a gas state. It does not pass through the usual liquid state, and only occurs at specific temperatures and pressures.

Sublimation printing is a design process where inks are transferred onto the product using heat.  The result is permanent and significantly less prone to fading, as the ink penetrates the material instead of simply laying on top like a regular print.  The process is applied to achieve vibrant, all-over, everlasting graphics on awards, apparel and home décor.  It is perfectly suited for printing small or large quantities of designs.  There are two drawbacks to sublimation printing: 1.) these specialty inks can only be applied to products that are specially coated to receive them or synthetic materials; and 2.) white cannot be printed as it is the absence of colors.   

Despite the drawbacks, there are many products that are suitable for sublimation printing including acrylic, aluminum, ceramic tile, glass, leather, polyester fabrics, stickers, wood and more.  Currently, we are working to add stainless steel drinkware to our sublimation lineup. We have a catalog that shows many of these products: https://premiercustomcolor.com/

We are constantly looking for new ways to create custom awards and gifts.  That’s why innovation is one of our core values.  The next time you need to preserve a memory or brand with a full color logo, contact the staff at JML Engraving. 

In the 1960’s laser technology was invented for industrial purposes.  Laser stands for Light Amplification by Simulated Emission of Radiation.  By the late 70’s, laser engravers were born.  In the 1980’s and 90’s engineers had computerized the laser system and advanced the technology to the point that they could be used in engraving awards and gifts.  The software that runs today’s laser engravers uses black and white images to determine where the flashes of light will burn the surface of the item to be engraved.  By the time we got started in this industry it was common for many engravers to have one in their shop.  Today, we have four in the Lyndon location and two in Manhattan. 

Due to its versatility, our most common method of marking is by laser engraving.  Our lasers can engrave painted metals, crystal, plastics, acrylic, leather, plastic signage, rubber for stamps and wood.  With the help of chemicals that bond to stainless steel, aluminum, ceramic and glass, we can put a lasting black mark on those surfaces.  We can even engrave cylinders like glass drinkware, flashlights, vases and even insulated tumblers using a special apparatus that turns the item as it engraves.  We have specialized software that converts photographs in black and white to be engraved on many of our products. 

We are constantly looking for new ways to create custom awards and gifts.  That’s why innovation is one of our core values.  Stop in one of the stores and we’ll help you create a unique item to preserve your most memorable moments. 

I am so excited to start this blog to share our journey with you.

We started this journey over 20 years ago in order to positively affect peoples’ lives. Before this I worked in the claims department of a crop insurance company. I helped farmers whose crops were hailed out, burned up in a drought or washed out in heavy rains. However, it wasn’t until I joined the family’s engraving business that I had a personal connection to the people that I helped.

I was asked to sum up what we do in a simple phrase – an elevator pitch. A friend suggested that we celebrate victories. From the birth of a child, school achievements, career accomplishments, weddings, retirement, lifetime accolades, we are here to preserve those treasured memories.

Weirdly enough, I got such fulfillment from making my customers cry – I mean touching their lives. That’s my inspiration to keep going when the details of small business drive me crazy. So each day when I get to work, I check emails and take care of business. Then I go make engraving magic.

Over the next few weeks we’ll share some of the processes that we use to make our creations and show some of the unique things that we do. I hope you enjoy taking this journey with us!