Patent ID: 8379679

Claim:
A method for creating a mark on an anodized aluminum article comprising: providing a laser marking system having a laser, laser optics, a stage, and a controller operatively connected to said laser and laser optics and stage, said laser emitting laser pulses which are directed to said anodized aluminum article by said laser optics cooperating with said stage under the direction of said controller, said laser marking system further having laser pulse parameters which characterize the interaction between said laser pulses and said anodized aluminum article; determining the particular laser pulse parameters associated with creating said mark; making said particular laser pulse parameters available to said controller; and controlling said laser to produce, in cooperation with said controller, laser optics and stage, said laser pulses having said particular laser pulse parameters; and directing said laser pulses to impinge upon said anodized aluminum article thereby creating said mark, wherein said mark comprises a size, shape, location, color and optical density, and wherein said optical density is equal to or less than about L*=40, a*=5, and b*=10.