Many people who purchase a cremation urn for ashes want to have the urn personalized. Learn the different processes for personalizing an urn and what to look for.

1. Personalizing Cremation Urns
Unique Ways to Preserve Memories.
Ira Woods, OneWorld Memorials | ira@oneworldmemorials.com

2. What Is Personalization ?
Personalization is a way to make your urn or other memorial item
"personal" or individual. It may include one of the following:
Adding an engraved
base
Engraving directly
onto the
urn/memorial
product
Engraving onto a
plaque that will be
placed on the urn
Adding an
engravable
pendant placed
around the urn

3. Engraving Processes – Three Methods for
Engraving Onto a Cremation Urn

4. 1. Laser Engraving
Laser engraving uses lasers to produce a desired effect. The laser is like a pencil – the beam
emitted from it allows the controller to trace patterns or words onto a surface. Laser engraving is
extremely versatile, suitable for hardwoods, some metals, most coated metals, and small items
requiring fine precision, such as jewelry.

5. 2. Rotary Engraving
Rotary engraving is done with a rotating cutting tool in a motorized spindle. The tool cuts into
the surface of the material to a predetermined depth, producing a groove. It works well on
uncoated metals, such as brass, stainless steel, silver, gold, titanium, pewter and aluminum.
Creating a groove through a layer of paint that coats the metal exposes the base metal surface
and color. Rotary engraving allows for deeper cuts on marble or stone than can be produced by
laser engraving.

6. 3. Sand Carving
Sandcarving works best for engraving marble, stone, glass, ceramic, granite or metal. A
photomask, or stencil, is applied to the surface to be carved. Using compressed air, an abrasive
sand-like material is propelled onto that surface, carving only in the open areas of the stencil.
This method can produce a lightly frosted image or a more deeply etched design.

7. What Cremation Urn Materials Can be
Engraved with Which Process?
Some materials lend themselves more favorably to engraving process than do other
materials. This is good to keep in mind when carefully reviewing vendor information
about engraving suitability for your product.
A laser engraved Celtic Cross on a Bamboo Cremation Urn

8. What If You Find the Perfect Cremation Urn and
Then Learn it Can’t be Engraved?
Some urns do not lend themselves well to the engraving process.
The Elite Radiance Bronze
Cremation Urn has a lot of
beautiful etching on its
metal body, yet this makes
it impossible to engrave.
There are workarounds!

9. The Workarounds: An engraved metal pendant
placed around the neck of the urn.

10. Misty Mountains Ceramic Urn has a beautiful mountain scene, but no space to
engrave properly. By personalizing it with an engraved plaque and base, it enables
you to accomplish your desired outcome.
The Workarounds: An Engraved Base

11. Details to Consider Before Personalizing
• Word limit or character count
• Line count
• Engraving is limited by the size of the engraving
surface and item shape
The Aria Butterfly
full sized urn has
ample room for
engraving.
• Up to 3 lines
• Up to 40
characters per
line
The Aria Butterfly
Keepsake Heart has a
small engraving surface.
• Up to 2 lines
• Up to 20 characters per
line

12. Details to Consider Before Ordering a
Personalized Urn:
Fonts – most often a choice
between a block or calligraphic
script style
Symbols – such as a dove,
cross, heart, dolphin, or
others.

13. A few last tips:
 Think about what you want the engraving to say before you place your order.
 Be sure your text aligns with the engraving capability (material, character count, etc.) of
the urn you’ve chosen.
 If you want to specify where the engraving will go on the urn, check with the vendor to
see what placement is possible. They will often comply.
 Timing: Engraving can take an extra 1-3 business days.
 If you want a rush order call the vendor and ask if they can expedite.

14. Personalizing Cremation Urns
Choosing a cremation urn for a
loved one and adding engraving is
a meaningful, important decision.
Work with your vendor for a
satisfying result that meets your
emotional and aesthetic needs.
The customer service
representatives are there to assist
you, answering questions or
solving any issues along the way.

15. Or
Call toll free
844 671-9744