Laser etching, is used to selectively melt and remove paint from specific areas of the top layer. Once the paint is removed, the back-lighting will illuminate the keypad in that area.

It’s important to note that silicone rubber keypads are often laser-etched to enhance the effects of back-lighting.Laser etching only works, however, if the silicone rubber keypad has back-lighting. Without back-lighting, the laser-etched area or areas won’t be illuminated. Not all silicone rubber keypads with back-lighting are laser etched, but all or most laser-etched silicone rubber keypads do feature back-lighting.