Photo Crystals

[Caladon]

Does anyone know what software and hardware is used to create photo crystals the images etched into the centre of solid blocks of glass? what machinery is used and computer ware?

[lisaj]

They had a stall at the Ideal Home Exhibition putting people's faces into them. They used a form of laser topographical scanning which a computer then used to control three further lasers to etch the glass block at particular co-ordinates. Where all three beams intersected, the resulting energy level was sufficient to etch/burn/melt/etc. and you end up with a block with lots of those etched points within it.