Method and device for color laser marking

A method of laser marking a surface of a workpiece with a plurality of colors, said method comprising:

• displaying a pattern on a mask which selectively passes a laser beam incident thereto;
• generating a laser beam;
• directing the thus generated laser beam through said mask and an optical system onto a surface of said workpiece so as to produce a pattern of a first color on said surface of said workpiece, said surface of said workpiece being made of a synthetic material containing organic and inorganic materials;
• said optical system comprising at least one element for deflection, collection, magnification, division, attenuation, or mode change of said laser beam;
• changing at least one of said at least one element for deflection, collection, magnification, division, attenuation, or mode change of said laser beam with another element for deflection, collection, magnification, division, attenuation, or mode change of said laser beam to thereby modify said optical system;
• directing said thus generated laser beam through said mask and the thus modified optical system onto said surface of said workpiece, having said pattern of said first color thereon, to produce a pattern of a second color on said surface of said workpiece, said second color being different from said first color, thereby providing a marked pattern on said surface of said workpiece wherein said marked pattern has a plurality of colors.