Immortalised in Slate: A Touching Memorial with Photo Engraving

Honouring Memories Through Slate Engraving

At our workshop, every piece we create tells a story—but some resonate more deeply than others. Recently, we were asked to create something truly special: a lasting memory for three young men who sadly lost their father at a young age. Their mother approached us with the idea of having a photo engraving done that would unite each son with their dad in a way that could be cherished forever.

Using individual photographs of each son and a treasured image of their father, we meticulously cropped and edited each photo, then seamlessly stitched them together to create three powerful and personal images. The final result? A beautifully engraved A4-sized slate plaque for each son, capturing a moment that never existed in real life—but now lives forever in stone.

The Slate Engraving Process

Creating a memorial slate engraving like this involves several thoughtful steps:

1. Image Preparation
   Each son’s photograph was cropped and merged with their father's image, taking care to maintain natural poses and lighting. This digital work is crucial to ensure the engraving looks lifelike.

2. Test Engraving on Sample Slate
   Before committing to the final pieces, we ran test engravings on smaller pieces of slate. This allows us to gauge the level of detail and adjust for contrast and clarity. Sometimes we zoom in just on faces to ensure they’ll engrave well – in this case, the images engraved perfectly and stand among some of the best we've ever produced.

3. Slate Preparation
   We clean each slate thoroughly, removing any dust or debris. Once dry, we apply a clear lacquer to enhance the contrast, deepening the natural blue-grey tone to a rich gloss black.

4. Final Engraving
   After allowing the lacquer to cure for 12–24 hours, we proceed with the engraving process. Once complete, the slate is washed again with a gentle green sponge – durable enough to clean thoroughly but safe for the material.

A Legacy in Stone

These three memorial photo engravings now serve as timeless keepsakes, allowing each son to have a visual connection to their father that they can hold onto for life. This project is a reminder of why we do what we do—offering more than just an engraving, but a legacy that’s been immortalised in stone.