Laser marking additives of at least one the core particle selected from the group consisting of copper oxide, chromium oxide, ceramic yellow, cobalt oxide, tungsten oxide, vanadium oxide, titanium oxide, ceramic red, molybdenum oxide, zinc sulfide and any combination thereof, and a coating covering at least part of the core particle comprising at least one oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti, Ce, Zr, Zn, Al, Ba, Sr, La, Mg, Ca, V, Ta and mixtures thereof. This powder is used with 1064 nm wavelength laser (semiconductor lasers, fiber lasers) to change color in a plastic or polymer substrate to give contrast in laser marking plastics.