The maps in the shop come in two styles, and people often ask which one they are looking at. The short answer: both are 3D, and both are built from layers of laser-cut Baltic birch. The difference is in how many layers there are, how the names and shorelines are put on, and what sits in front of the wood.
The quick comparison
| Laser-engraved | UV-printed | |
|---|---|---|
| Layers | Up to 12 layers of laser-cut Baltic birch | Up to 5 layers of laser-cut, hand-stained Baltic birch |
| Names and depths | Engraved into the wood | Shorelines and place names printed sharp on the top layer |
| Front | Acrylic front | Nothing over the wood, so you can run a finger along the contours |
| Waters | More than 195 lakes, bays and coastlines | 13 waters, from Puget Sound to the Florida Keys |
| Price | Varies by water and size (Lake Tahoe starts at $99) | $188 each, framed |
Laser-engraved: the deep relief
The laser-engraved maps are the classic. Each depth contour is its own laser-cut sheet of birch, stacked by hand in order, so a deep lake becomes a staircase of up to 12 layers. Names, roads and soundings are engraved into the wood, and an acrylic front keeps it all clean on the wall.
Choose these when the depth itself is the point: a deep, dramatic lake, a bay with a channel running through it, or a big statement piece.
UV-printed: the sharp detail
The UV-printed maps take a different approach. They use fewer layers, up to five, but every shoreline and place name is printed directly onto the top layer, so the small type stays crisp. There is no acrylic, so nothing sits between you and the wood. The stained birch layers give the water its depth, and you can touch the contours.
Choose these when you want clean, readable detail at a set price, or when you like the idea of nothing covering the wood.
See all 13 UV-printed maps $188 each
So which one?
- Your water only comes one way. Most lakes, bays and coasts are laser-engraved, and the UV series covers 13. If yours comes both ways, it is your call.
- You love the deep relief. Go laser-engraved. More layers means more steps between the shore and the deepest water.
- You want to read every name. Go UV-printed. Printed type stays sharp even at small sizes.
- It is a gift with a budget. The UV maps are $188 each, framed, which makes the math easy.
Same birch, same idea: a real depth chart you can see from across the room and feel up close.
Not sure your water is covered? Find it on the map.
Keep reading: What Is a Bathymetric Map? · What Size Lake Map Should You Get? · The Lake Lover's Gift Guide: 2026 Edition