On the corner of North Adams Street and Brook Road, Jason Lefton is making a living on having fun. At his company Big Secret – a laser engraving, cutting and marking shop – Lefton uses fun as a way to create quality products and build connections with the Greater Richmond community. Big Secret, now in its second year, is a place where fun meets hard work in the form of laser crafted products. The shop’s work has included laser-etched business cards, skateboard grip tape, iPhone cases, mason jars, laptops, wooden necklaces, sandwich boards, wedding invitations, book covers, and more. They’re hoping to expand into the automotive industry by investing in a Laserax machine, but only time will tell whether or not they manage to reach such heights.

Conceptually the process of laser engraving, cutting, and marking is pretty simple. You have the laser from a top-rated place like Boss Laser (which you can click here to get get more information about), the controller of the laser (in Lefton’s case a MacBook) and the material upon which the laser is applied. Unlike engraving and marking with drill bits or ink, laser marking does not erode the material by making contact. With the laser you can cut, mark, and engrave even delicate materials with high precision and accuracy. For instance, most people these days tend to opt for uv laser services for those phone back cases which is made up of silica. Who doesn’t like personalization in the present times! In an industry that is founded on trophy engravings and etchings on crystal awards, Big Secret has chosen to go in a more experimental direction. There are lots of companies that work with (and sell!) laser cutters, so if Big Secret isn’t local to you, don’t worry! Just make sure you read the company reviews beforehand. For example, these boss laser reviews may be helpful if you were going to buy from previously mentioned Boss Laser.

Lefton prides himself on going beyond the usual applications of laser marking. Walking by the window of his shop you’ll see the expression of that goal: “We use lasers to make art, toys and other fun stuff out of wood, paper, acrylic, fabric, rubber, glass and more.” Using lasers to put his mark on objects is a passion that continues to grow for Lefton, and it was a natural evolution for him as an artist. Lefton began his career as a graphic designer. He was drawn to the beauty and craft of design brought to life in the digital world. Yet, after he purchased his first laser as a private (read: secret) hobby, he was taken by the effect it could have. He started creating laser-etched objects for friends and early clients and the response was happily startling. Lefton found the precision of the laser remarkable, and with that precision he began to imagine how far he could push things. Quickly, he began collaborating with other artists in the community, further developing his passion. Lefton’s work is a cross between digital design – the crafting of shapes and images for his laser to cut – and the tangible objects to which those designs are applied. “Lasers are a tool to interact with the community;” says Lefton, “a beautiful tool to combine the digital and the tangible.” This combination, and his excitement behind it, has made his growing company a local hit. But it’s his personal passion for the work that comes first. Lefton is much more drawn to the process of creating great things than he is in cashing the next check.

“We want our clients to stay as happy as we are and excited as we are about working with lasers…I’ve always been more excited by the potential of having fun doing creative collaborations and producing something unique versus how much money can we make.”

In a recent creative collaboration Lefton worked with Art 180, a local community art organization that provides art-related programs to young people living in challenging circumstances. Lefton and his crew created a collection of frosted acrylic clouds to give to Art180 donors as a thank you for their contributions. For each donor Big Secret produced two clouds. Both were laser-etched with the donor’s names. One was then hung in the new Art180 space while the other was mounted on local reclaimed wood for donors to keep. While perhaps not the most experimental use of the laser, it was this type of project that brought together all the things Lefton loves about his work: creativity, connection and community.

“When I was working on websites the connection wasn’t as visceral as it is with Big Secret. With the laser and the possibilities of working with tangible objects, you get to see the emotional response of the recipients and it just makes me really happy.”

When asked about his approach moving forward, Lefton maintains an even perspective. “I’m just interested in keeping a good head and a good focus on the fact that we’re in this to make quality objects and provide a quality service for people that doesn’t leave behind the creative element. Were always pushing to be the best at what we’re doing.”Big Secret is using lasers to carve out new connections, and build Greater Richmomd’s creative capital. As Lefton would say it: “Virginia is for lasers™.”