The present invention provides a method of marking or inscribing a workpiece (3) with high-energy radiation, more particularly with a laser beam (1), the workpiece (3) being transparent for the radiation wavelength, and a polymer matrix (7) being disposed in the vicinity of the workpiece (3) in such a way that the radiation passes through the workpiece (3) before it impinges on the polymer matrix (7), characterized in that disposed between the polymer matrix (7) and the workpiece (3) is a film (15) of liquid which is in contact with the polymer matrix (7) and with the workpiece (3).