Abstract: A method for the decoration of a transparent plastics material article comprising the steps of providing an article having a transparent plastics material body to be decorated, said article body to be decorated having internal stresses and having characteristic physical properties, and directing a pulsed laser beam having a pulse energy and a pulse duration into the body of said article, said laser beam being successively focussed by an optical focussing system in different regions within the body of said article, said pulse energy and said pulse duration being selected in dependence upon the desired extent of the decorative features.