| Are you looking for wonderful glass doors for your | | | | a frosted background, though It's recommended if your |
| home or office? In the past, it's always been sturdy, | | | | frosted background is significantly lighter than the |
| heavy wooden doors that have gotten all the attention; | | | | actual etching to make the contrast more apparent. |
| the heavier and more elaborate the wood, the fancier | | | | If you have a garden, then consider using etched glass |
| your house was considered to be. | | | | doors as the door to your garden; it will lend both an |
| But that has changed as the modern day has dawned, | | | | old-fashioned and modernistic style to your beautiful |
| and simplicity and elegance were valued over | | | | garden. |
| old-fashioned fanciness. Now, glass doors are more | | | | The actual process of etching glass is a little more |
| popular than ever, because of their contemporary | | | | complicated. There are several modern ways of |
| sophistication and their ability to allow light in | | | | frosting the glass in that way; there's sandblasting, |
| everywhere to give a much more open, warmer feel | | | | which is slightly less accurate, and also etching via the |
| to the atmosphere of a room, house, store, or office. | | | | Leptat acid process. |
| One type of glass door in particular is the etched glass | | | | The sandblasted frosted glass gives a more abrasive |
| door, and these etched glass doors are essentially | | | | look, while the Leptat acid process creates a |
| designs created by frosting glass. Frosted glass results | | | | crystalline surface with much texture that is deeply |
| in a translucent glass window, which is nice because it | | | | etched. The Leptat acid process originated in a |
| allows more privacy without blocking the light. | | | | Czechoslovakian glass exhibit that was at the World's |
| Translucent frosted glass can be used for showers | | | | Fair in Osaka, Japan. |
| and office doors-or, if you want to be a bit fancier, you | | | | The Leptat etching process is often considered the |
| can put designs on the frosted glass and make it into | | | | more expensive and more elegant of the two, |
| a glass etching, which is truly beautiful and complex. | | | | because instead of simply creating a rough sheen |
| Glass etchings are usually created by sandblasting | | | | over the glass, the Leptat acid process creates a |
| glass in several different stages in order to create | | | | beautiful reflective surface that is etched and carved |
| different depths of translucency if you want a more | | | | as if it were an intricate gem, and light reflects off the |
| three dimensional picture (it's somewhat like shading in | | | | Leptat etched glass from many different angles. |
| a drawing, and the results are very beautiful). | | | | If you'd like, you can create your own glass etching |
| Popularly, etched glass is usually made up of a | | | | designs using etching cream, though these may not be |
| semi-translucent picture with a clear background. This | | | | as beautiful as etchings through the Leptat etching |
| gives the glass a nice, elegant look while still maintaining | | | | process. However, homemade glass etching can be |
| transparency and allowing plenty of light through. | | | | fun and is safe as long as you take precautions not to |
| The alternative is to use an etched piece of glass with | | | | allow the glass to cut your hands. |