De-focused laser etching of a light diffuser

A system for making a light-transmitting panel, comprising:

• a support structure for supporting a panel;
• a transport assembly mounted on the support structure;
• a laser head mounted on the transport assembly, wherein the laser head is movable by the transport assembly in x, y, and z axes relative to the panel;
• a stencil mounted to the transport assembly between the laser head and the panel, wherein the stencil includes a plurality of openings;
• and
• a programmable controller coupled to the transport assembly and to the laser head, wherein the programmable controller is configured with instructions that when executed cause the programmable controller to perform operations including:
• defocusing a laser beam generated by the laser head from the panel, wherein a width of the defocused laser beam at a location at which the laser beam strikes the panel is at least as large as a size of a desired disruption on the panel;
• and
• powering the laser head and moving the laser head and the defocused laser beam over the openings in the stencil, wherein the laser head is powered at a level and moved at a rate that creates a disruption in the surface of the panel at each opening in the stencil.