This design was just plain fun to make, and is a great example of how multicolored markings turn out on Magpul polymer (PMAGs in this case). This pattern is now available in our store on both Magpul PMAGs and MOE grips!
Most people refer to this sort of process as “laser engraving”, but in the case of these PMAGs it’s actually laser marking because little or no material is removed by the laser. The colors are created when pigments used in the polymer blend are burned off by the laser in the surface layers to varying degrees based on laser settings (power, speed, and line spacing primarily). Standard black PMAGs and MOE grips show the best effect and contrast but this can also be done on FDE or other color magazines. With the black polymer, you can achieve three primary color tones: Brown, gray, and tan in varying shades. In general brown tones require more power from the laser (lower speed, higher power) and the line spacing is wider. Grays are a middle ground tone, and if they’re marked too fast or with too little power they start to look tan. Tan is closer to the natural color of the polymer, achieved with high speed and low power with a very narrow line spacing, in effect bleaching as much pigment as possible from the polymer without burning or melting the plastic.
