What Is Etching And Why Does It Look So Cool?

Etched glass is a common sight in the modern world, and it adds flair and a touch of elegance to many otherwise everyday pieces of glass. Though few give it much thought, there are actually two very distinct and different ways of producing etched glass, both methods differ in cost and also the final look.
Before talking about the methods, it is valuable to understand the actual process of etching a glass surface. Etching is the process of removing small amounts of a surface of a material to engrave designs. This is done in a controlled manner, to create often complicated and beautiful patterns and configurations. The usual method of glass etching is sandblasting, which is when covering a "negative" of the design desired onto a glass surface. To clarify, this is akin to putting up tape on the parts you don't want painted when spray painting. The same notion is applied to the glass, and then specialized equipment is used to bombard the glass with sand, which scratches away at the glass where it is not covered and creates a frosted effect.
The alternate method is named "high definition chemical etching". As opposed to using clunky equipment to bombard the surface of the glass with small particles of rock, this process uses chemicals to neatly remove a small amount of material from the surface of the glass. This results in much more complex results, and also opens up the possibility of more depth and shading, as sandblasted etchings are all a uniform frosted white color.
The two methods are very different and produce dramatically different results. While sandblasting is better for general designs and large area work, high definition etching is much more delicate. Not only is it smooth to the touch, unlike sandblasted glass, it allows for much more detailed work.
When determining whether to use custom work, high definition etching is definitely the best call. When speaking of custom glass etching a good thing to know is that chemical etching is generally more cost effective than sandblasting, partially explained by the fact that it doesn't require complex and costly equipment. However, a great deal of work or skill goes into its production, as chemical etching is a precise and precarious process, which takes real skill. Typically in the etching business there is no such thing as a "second try".
Etched glass is a good way to add some elegance to any glass door, window, table, etc. Etched mirrors can add a classy accent to any home decor additionally. Each high definition etched mirror also has the amazing ability to continue to be reflective, even in the sections that they've been etched. This does not hold up with sandblasted mirrors, as they look a frosty color in the sections that they've been etched. This makes possible for some very elegant and tasteful home décor.

By: Mark Daniels

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Starting from a small one-man operation in his basement laundry room, Mark Daniels built Master Visions into the largest provider of etched glass gifts in the world. See the unique line of high definition www.mastervisions.com" target="_blank">etched mirrors which include wildlife, lighthouse, personalized and custom ideas that can fill all your gift needs.