| Another beautiful way to imprint promotional products, | | | | The metal then goes through an acid bath or an acid |
| etching is often mistaken for engraving. Though the | | | | wash. During this process, the acid eats away at the |
| results are similar, the process behind the two are | | | | bare metal leaving a fine image on the surface of the |
| totally different. Engraving uses either a graver (can be | | | | product. This process is called "biting". |
| a rotating carbide cutter or a diamond drag) or laser to | | | | Once the image has successfully been transferred |
| cut into metal and other hard-surface items. Etching, on | | | | onto the substrate, it is washed over with water. Finally, |
| the other hand, uses strong acids or other abrasives to | | | | the resist is removed with a solvent. |
| cut into the unprotected parts of the substrate. The | | | | Etching Glass |
| most common use for etching is on a metal or glass | | | | There are two ways to etch glass: |
| surfaces. | | | | First, glass etchers can either use acidic, caustic or |
| How It's Done | | | | abrasive substances. In the 1920's, manufacturers |
| Etching Metals | | | | developed the mold-etch process to significantly |
| The metal to be imprinted is coated with an | | | | reduce costs for labor-intensive glass etching. Here, art |
| acid-resistant substance (also called a resist, it is usually | | | | is etched directly onto the mold so that each piece |
| a waxy ground). The etcher then exposes the image | | | | cast from it comes out with the image already etched |
| to be imprinted. | | | | on the glass. This process involves extremely |
| Traditional methods of exposing an image utilizes an | | | | hazardous acids, so most etchers still prefer the use |
| etching needle or an échoppe for sloped lines. | | | | of abrasive elements. Fluoride compounds are the |
| Today, most etching companies use photographic | | | | most popular abrasives used for glass. |
| means. A photo-negative of the artwork is prepared. | | | | The second way to etch glass is with a sand blaster. |
| This image is then exposed on the photo-sensitive | | | | The glass is covered with a template that has a |
| surface of the metal. This step results in exposed and | | | | design cut out of it. When blasted with silicone sand, |
| a protected metal portions. | | | | only the unprotected portions are etched into the glass. |