Patent ID: 8487212

Claim:
A method of marking or inscribing a workpiece ( 3 ) comprising the steps of providing high-energy radiation ( 1 ), providing the workpiece ( 3 ) having a light-scattering surface ( 9 ) and made of a transparent material for the radiation wavelength, and having a polymer matrix ( 7 ) being disposing on the workpiece ( 3 ) in such a way that the radiation passes through the workpiece ( 3 ) and its light-scattering surface ( 9 ) before impinging on the polymer matrix ( 7 ), wetting the light-scattering surface ( 9 ) of the workpiece ( 3 ) with a liquid or visco-elastic medium ( 11 ), and wherein the radiation induces removal of material from the polymer matrix ( 7 ), and resultant products deposit on the workpiece ( 3 ) in the form of a marking or inscription, and wherein the liquid or viscoelastic medium ( 11 ) is removed from the light-scattering surface ( 9 ) after the marking or inscribing.