My MacBook Etching

Laser malfunction. Grrr!

Notice the lovely bleed!

Sadly somewhat marred by a malfunction of the laser cutter, but still quite pretty I think. We decided to take a gamble on allowing the design to bleed over the curved edges and I think it paid off nicely. I love the way the Apple logo looks like a harvest moon above the vegetation. Perhaps I can just tell people that the faded part is San Francisco fog.

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Comments

somebear says:

Very pretty. Too bad about the laser malfunction. I guess there's no way of correcting it?
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

carpeaqua says:

Wow, I really wanna do something like this to my laptop.
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

Jon Hicks says:

Soooo niiice!±
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

☃ says:

Cool idea – almost a bit Sigur Rós-ish. The bleeding is great.
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

merlinmann says:

Lovely -- and I kinda like the "error."

Slightly OT: does etching make the treated area any easier to grip? Seems like this could also have the functional effect of making the case less slippery, which I would love.
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

Courtney S says:

i really like the messed up part too. call it a "happy accident." or just tell people it's a statement about the intersection of nature and technology.
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

Tommy-toe says:

Ooh, that looks awesome! Did you design it yourself?
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

sandirab [deleted] says:

this is AMAZING! i'm in love with it.
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

anilucia says:

Buzz, I like the malfunction as well. It almost looks like your laptop is speeding somewhere...
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

ldandersen says:

@somebear: We considered trying to correct it by overprinting the lower portion of the image, but based on a few small tests we did I was afraid it would just end up looking like a patch job.

@carpeaqua: Yeah, it's pretty a pretty awesome but surprisingly labor intensive process. I was really surprised that it's still such an inexact science.

@Jon Hicks: Thanks! Did you see how well the Firefox logo turned out on Leah's machine? It almost made me want to just print that large on mine.

@Sven: Thanks!

@merlinmann: Not really--the surface still feels exactly the same on the etched area.

@loopkid: I agree--I was going for subtle :-).

@Courtney S: I really appreciate you saying that--makes me feel a lot better :-)!

@Tommy-toe: The idea was mine but I can't claim credit for making the art--it's a piece of vector clip art from iStockPhoto :-P.

@Joeishi: Awesome--thanks :-)!

@anilucia: Once again, that's a relief to hear. I'll give that explanation :-).
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

Jon Hicks says:

I did Buzz, and I want mine done too! (Not with the Firefox logo though!)
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

sarahhatter says:

What image/photo did you use to generate the silhouette?? It's beautiful!
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

Anthony Baker says:

OMG! This looks brilliant. Must find a place to get this done for my machine... Have to say, I've been one to hold off spoiling my PB using any kind of stickers or whatnot, but this type of effect is classy as all hell.
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

ldandersen says:

@sarahhatter: It's a stock piece of clip art from iStockPhoto. I *knew* you'd like it :-).

@Anthony Baker: Yeah, I was definitely going for subtle and classy. Thanks!
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

bitpuddle says:

Cool! I want one.
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

leight_k says:

Wow, you actually had the guts to do that to your MacBook Pro! Amazing :) The 'screw-up' isn't too bad, imagine it without it though :)! Love the new look of the MBP!

Nice work! Jealous...
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

caffeineandpixels says:

If anyone's interested, there's TONS of beautiful vector art like this on istockphoto.com (And it's really cheap!)
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

jayasolo says:

Great idea, I love it! (and the error area looks really cool)
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

kelly ♥ kaiser says:

wow!!!!! I need too!
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

(jennY) says:

Its beautiful!
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

joelsuplido says:

Great job! At first I thought it was a shadow!
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

roseofwinter says:

Wow - I'd love something like this on my Macbook!
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

Georgie Sharp says:

Very Cool Bright, found on EXPLORE.
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

neatlysliced says:

Pretty cool. A rather gorgeous design.
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

..=D says:

It looks very nice...

i liked the idea...
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

www.johnowenphotography.co.uk says:

Loving that, I love something like it on mine
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

CecilSeaside says:

gotta add my vote for: looks great and so does the "malfunction". You couldn't have planned that much better. I think it adds "grunge", in a good way. Also reminds me of the scrapes on the underside of a skateboard, which is hella rad.
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

ldandersen says:

Yeah, I have to say, it's growing on me as kind of a grunge thing. Adds character--it's not too "perfect."
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

Kaitlin M says:

That's really awesome... too bad about the laser malfunction.
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

Pictures of Clouds says:

Very cool. I want to see the real thing!
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

kondrath82 says:

very cool!
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

Jevaun says:

AWESOME. That's simmply brilliant. I've toyed with the idea of doing th esame thing, but never figured out a good design to put on mine. Shame about the malfuction tho.
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

Audrey Hall Photography says:

Totally cool. And brave!
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

tsevis says:

Great design! Congrats!
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

Hashem. says:

This looks great. Adds personality and personalization. How can I get it done? Is there a place in SF? I heard you can get a replacement lid too, that you can replace...
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

mylatteisu says:

how did u do that?
teach me
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

ldandersen says:

Check out the info here.
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

i_Z_Z_y says:

awesome !!!
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

Jestu what?! says:

even the 'oops' is beautiful and helping me to thaw out.....
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

mooshuspice says:

Once I get my Mac, I know what I'm doing to it.
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

!efatima says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Emirates Mac, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

lungstruck says:

After looking at this in high-res, I hafta say that malfunction actually looks pretty cool! And the bleed over is very nice. In any case, it's at least 10x sexier than your run-of-the-mill stickerbook.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Nizur says:

Wow. Really cool etching. Something to think about doing when I eventually get a Macbook of my own.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

m4de says:

Great work !
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Jack Pearce says:

You made it to digg. Looks like it was posted to someone's blog.

digg.com/apple/Beautiful_Macbook_Pro_Laser_Et ching
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

unloud says:

The laser malfunction looks like it was on purpose, like nature tearing itself away :-) Awesome job.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

eugenio gp says:

this is beautiful!! i would love to have something like this done to my mac...
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

geniusNOTatWORK says:

that is a BEAUTIFUL design! And don't fret about the "malfunction," it looks amazing!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Geek Woo says:

Oh cool! Hmm, I'll look into doing something similar with vinyl stickers on my Macbook. Eh, it's not laser etching, but it'll do :)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

vasta says:

Absolutely gorgeous. I need to find me an etching laser in Toronto.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

staticmovements says:

Congrats!!! This is the greatest I've seen so far. I don't think anything can match it.

You mentioned you found it on istockphoto.com . I searched quite a bit and I could not find anything THAT good in similar sketches. Do you know the name or any clues so I can find it? I want it for a present print, its excellent!
Cheers
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

ldandersen says:

Try doing a search for "flourish."
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

staticmovements says:

Ok ,thanx a lot!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

alexandersantosPT says:

I thought the malfunction was simulating water…I did notice it but wasn't sure if it was intentional.

It is definitely an eye catcher, Apple should do it themselves for a fee or free.

Very beautiful design!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Isak Engström says:

That was very nice!

Soon I will got my own Macbook Pro! Sweet =)
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

oleks z. says:

cool
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

carter_colo says:

Best MBP etching, yet.
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

carter_colo says:

by the way, may I ask which company you used to perform the etching?
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

ldandersen says:

I did it at Squid Labs in Emeryville, CA. I was able to do it there because I know people, though--they don't do it as a business.
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

vlinzmayer, inventando mañanas says:

nice
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

bryantken [deleted] says:

Jeez. I need to get that done. :)
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

luay1985 says:

I though this is a CG image .. !
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

Danilo Nunez Jr. says:

Wow. That is beautiful. I've seen these done with other macbook pros and I've really want to get mine done. Thanks for the inspiration! Now to the drawing board...
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

Xavacid says:

That is beautiful.
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

matt_fl!ck3r says:

personally
i think the laser malfunction can pass as art
or a part of the design
cause it looks cool
Posted 26 months ago. ( permalink )

Fundamentals [deleted] says:

Looks great!
Posted 26 months ago. ( permalink )

peanutbutterandmelly says:

wow, i love this; you should start a business doing that for people (like me) who can't!
Posted 26 months ago. ( permalink )

randomrazor says:

check mine out just did it 3 days ago!!!
www.flickr.com/photos/14373192@N06/1463527533 /
Posted 26 months ago. ( permalink )

GoosieGoose says:

That's very pretty but I dont think I'll have the guts to etch mine.
Posted 26 months ago. ( permalink )

LaStonata says:

Uao, it's a fantastic work! I love your macbook ;).
Posted 25 months ago. ( permalink )

[ danny ] says:

cool idea
Posted 25 months ago. ( permalink )

jaysgirl.designs says:

That is awesome, i'm gobsmacked!
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

macintoshmad [deleted] says:

I would have made them pay for it since there lazier damaged your Macbookpro
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

ldandersen says:

Well, they weren't making any money off it--just friends doing me a favor--so I just decided to grin and bear it :-).
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

russ david says:

wow thats awesome.
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

Alqarine says:

Whoa, that's definitely the most awesome MacBook I've seen. And that's saying something.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

your secret girl ♥ says:

I loved your photo and I want invite you for the group Laptop, notebooks.

--
Seen in someone's favorites. (?)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

ebensorkin says:

most deeply cool.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

GinGinO ; غــــآده ♥ says:

rw3a ...
keep goin =)
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

zupermx says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Signs & Logos, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

nantekoto says:

Thanks so much for sharing your great MacBook photo! I love my MacBook too: www.flickr.com/photos/nantekoto/2337643590
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

Nona13 says:

Nice!
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

AigredouMaryz says:

Great idea! very nice! You should definitely work with Apple! I'm sure many people would want to have their computer customized too =)
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

gabrielaescolan says:

AMAZING!!!
AWESOMEE PICTUREE!!!!!<3<3<3<3
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

shankarforniche says:

www.gambling.com
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Brian Recchia says:

My dad was thinking of getting a laser etching machine. Hopefully if he does I'll be able to etch the MacBook Pro that I'll have by that time. Haha.
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

katierendigs1 says:

that is rad
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

 Sion Bourne says:

This is a great way of personalizing your mac!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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Taken with a Canon EOS 20D.
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Taken on November 20, 2006
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