Welcome to Boi Para, College Street’s famous book market. Towering stacks of books line the pavement under old lamps and awnings, crowds browse towards a domed college building, and in the foreground an open book, a pair of spectacles and a steaming cup recall long afternoons of adda at the Coffee House. Every spine, page and wisp of steam is engraved in fine detail within an ornate frame.
How it’s engraved
These magnets are engraved on solid black acrylic with an infrared (IR) laser, and getting this level of detail is a genuinely technical process. Acrylic reacts to laser energy in a very narrow window: too much power and the surface melts, bubbles or clouds; too little and the marks come out faint and patchy. For every design, the power, speed, focus and line spacing are carefully calibrated and tested on offcuts before the final piece is run.
The artwork itself is prepared like a fine engraving plate. Shading is built from thousands of tiny, precisely spaced marks, so the laser can recreate soft gradients, glowing lights and reflections on water using nothing but the contrast between the polished black acrylic and the frosted, engraved surface. The result is a crisp, almost photographic silver-grey image with real depth, which is why no two runs are rushed and every magnet is checked by hand before it leaves the studio.
Details
- Original artwork designed exclusively by artist & owner of YldKat Studios, Ayantika Sen.
- Size: 4″ × 3″ (rectangle)
- Material: Solid black acrylic with a strong magnetic back
- Technique: High-detail IR laser engraving, calibrated piece by piece
- Sticks to the fridge, a locker, a whiteboard or any magnetic surface.
- The perfect gift for book lovers, students, teachers, writers and anyone who has spent an afternoon hunting for treasures on College Street.
Care
Wipe gently with a soft, dry or slightly damp microfibre cloth. Avoid alcohol, solvents and abrasive cleaners, which can scratch or cloud acrylic, and keep away from direct heat.
