The Difference Between Leather and Leatherette Sheets for Laser Engraving

Leather is an original material produced from animal skins, especially cattle and sheep skins. This strength and flexibility property has allowed the use of humans since old times. This will mean it can flex as well as extend without breaking. It's pretty good at doing many everyday objects like making clothes and shoes, luggage, as well as pieces of furniture!

On the other hand, leatherette is a human-made imitation of leather. It is made for people to look like real leather so that people, who do not want to work with products from animals, might have an opportunity. Leatherette is usually manufactured with plastics or vinyl, making it half the price of real leather. This can be a huge support when working on a project if you need to save money.

Leather vs. Leatherette

Leather, as you know, is a natural material so it has come from nature and when we think about leather, Leather is one of the materials that many people like because of its appearance and touch. It has a different texture that makes it special. And this texture is not only beautiful to behold; it is also functional by helping to highlight the engravings that have been created into the surface. To engrave, a design is cut into the surface, usually with a laser machine.

Leather is the sturdiest material; this is very luxurious. Yet again, it tends to be extremely pricey. So that should not be recommended for absolutely every project. You especially are working with larger materials if it's for something very simple.

Now, Leatherette. Some of the other factors involved which make it why many select Leatherette in the first place have got a great deal to do with its cost. This is ideal for people who want to save, but also need a material that looks nice, says Ms. Stankevicius. This material is also very simple to work with, meaning projects can be finished in no time. Leatherette might be the way to go — for example, if you have a school project or a craft to finish.

However, you need to be reminded that leatherette is never as good as the real deal. So engraving something on leatherette may not last as long if the same was to be engraved on leather. In that regard, leatherette can look so good for projects where it's not necessarily an issue in the case of things being used frequently.

Advantages and disadvantages of Engraving on Leather and Leatherette

There are pros and cons for engraving leather and also leatherette when you think about it. Leather engraving makes a project stand out and unique with a professional touch. There is something really lovely about how the engraving stands out of the natural leather. And since leather is such a durable material, the designs you create will come out clear and long-lasting.

However, if you are on a budget, leatherette can be a good option. While it might not look as fancy as leather, it comes in plenty of colors and patterns. For example, leatherette can also come in shiny or sparkly finishes, which can be fun for various types of projects.

Do remember that if you choose leatherette, it marks readily but the engravings will not be as deep as they are on leather. Another favorite surface to engrave is leather since the texture makes for a nice surface in which the details can be displaced and look more realistic.

Leather and Leatherette: Design and Engraving Techniques

There are some key considerations to take into account when sending a file to be designed and engraved onto leather and leatherette. First, think about the type of design you want to make. For very detailed or ornate designs, leather usually works better. The texture of the leather really showcases all the little details in the design, which only makes it look better!

Leatherette is actually pretty smooth, so it's not the best choice for very small, very detailed images. But even that may work well if the designs are pretty big and only need a little bit of detail, such as making a sign or an easy logo really big.

The other thing you should consider is the engraving style you would like to use. One of the most popular techniques for both leather engraving and leatherette engraving is laser engraving. That technique uses a laser to cut the design into the material, and it can produce super gorgeous results. 

There are several options that are available to you when it comes to selecting leather or leatherette sheets for your engraving projects. They have leather in different colors and textures. The leathers can be smooth, fuzzy suede, or even leather with fun patterns pressed into it. This variety lets you choose the ideal look for your project.

We have the complete range of laser engravable leather and leatherette sheets here at Supernova. We're proud to offer quality leather sheets that represent the best in our industry—strong, durable, comes in various colors, sizes and thicknesses, and is able to acomplish whatever you set your mind to! Sheep shavings sheep our now Elvis with the political in the sky frame sheep our the quality bone, no fire on your end.

In short, both leather and leatherette sheets are suitable for laser engraving but have their merits and demerits. Leather is a high-class material, quite durable and ideal for intricate designs but rather pricey. Leatherette, on the other hand, tends to be less expensive and easier to work with but doesn't wear as well as the genuine leather. When choosing between the two, consider the design that you hope to create along with your budget. We have a ton of options to support you at Supernova so please check out our selection of leather and leatherette sheets for engraving!