Patent ID: 8720527

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a cast product having a photographic relief image therein, the method comprising: (a) capturing a photographic image as a digital grayscale image; (b) converting the digital grayscale image to a series of instructions for operating a laser engraving machine; (c) laser engraving a pattern material using the series of instructions to provide a laser engraved substrate having a photographic relief image therein corresponding to the digital grayscale image and having a relief depth of about 0.030 inch to about 0.080 inch, wherein the relief depth refers to the maximum relief distance within the photographic relief image, and wherein the photographic relief image exhibits a true resolution corresponding to at least about 80 dpi; (d) creating a mold cavity in sand using the laser engraved substrate; and (e) casting a metallic material in the mold cavity to provide a cast product having the photographic relief image therein.