At first glance, many people ask us:"Did you just print a photo onto a leaf?"

The answer is a resoundingNO. This is not printing; this issubtractive sculpture.

The art ofLeaf Carving(or Leaf Vein Art) is a heritage craft that requires immense patience and precision. AtCustMake, creating a single piece takes days of work.

The "Vein-Retaining" MagicOur artisans manually scrape away themesophyll(the green flesh of the leaf) with microscopic precision. The dark areas of your photo are where the leaf is kept thick; the light areas are where we scrape it down to just the translucent veins.

Why is it so special?

  • 60-Step Process:From selecting the perfect Platanus leaf, to washing, fermentation, carving, and finally drying and curing.

  • Nature's Pixel:We don't use ink. The image is formed by the natural texture of the leaf itself.

  • Sunlight Effect:Because it relies on thickness and texture, the image looks different depending on the light. It comes alive when placed near a window.

It is a masterpiece where nature provides the canvas, and craftsmanship provides the soul.