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Advice on etch design
I have an enquiry for a very intricate etch design to go onto glass. It’s too delicate to cut from etch vinyl. Is there a way of printing to get the same effect?
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17 Replies
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Have you tries gray scale printing onto clear?
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What kind of finish would that have Graeme? Would it look like etch?
How ‘clear’ would the clear part be when fitted? Would it carry off as etch?
It’s for a very old door that was smashed and they want to replace it as close to the original as poss. But although the artwork is perfect there are lots of 1mm thick details so cutting isn’t an option. -
Marcella
have printed fulll colour & tints to etch with good results, little bit of playing to get colours, tints correct but result can look very goodKev
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Detail shouldnt be a problem, its just a balance on what you are prepared to do agains what the customer is going to pay you……Steves Lighthouse
Print will not replicate the etch but may get close, as Im guessing the original was sandblasted glass.
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Hi Kevin, thanks. I need the clear areas clear though, no tints on the etch just a plain frosted effect.
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I’m with Kevin, printing something onto etch will give a better finish than trying to print onto clear. There are not that many good optically clear films about and they are expensive, also with the inks being transparent it wont be very close to an etched finish. Only downside to printing directly to etch is that you will have no ‘clear’ bits that would normally be weeded out so it depends if that is important.
Otherwise you’ll just have to set aside a day and get comfy with your tweezers!
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well i should have just kept my trap shut then!
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that’s the thing Graeme, it’s 1mm thick lines in parts. It’s a perfect design and any imperfection would show up. I doubt fitting it alone would be fun!
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LOL Gav! I’m Mrs No Patience so I can imagine scrapping several bits to get it right LOL.
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quote Marcella Ross:LOL Gav! I’m Mrs No Patience so I can imagine scrapping several bits to get it right LOL.
Sub out the cut and weeding :lol1: Then fit youself
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I think I’d prefer to sub out the fitting :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:
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I’m surprised Graeme didn’t suggest his method of cutting then applying the whole lot to the glass and weeding out last. If it could be weeded out of a good cast material you could put that onto the glass then brush on etching cream. Both these methods would be best done on the bench rather than in front of the customer though.
Steve
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quote Steve Morgan:I’m surprised Graeme didn’t suggest his method of cutting then applying the whole lot to the glass and weeding out last. If it could be weeded out of a good cast material you could put that onto the glass then brush on etching cream. Both these methods would be best done on the bench rather than in front of the customer though.
Steve
:doh: :thumbsup: :doh:
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We use an optically clear film which can be wet or dry mounted, and print it digitally with white ink which gives a kind of etched effect. Could this be an option?
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I think Ian’s method might be closest to what your after Marcella.
is it a big graphic/window? -
Not that big about 1200 x 600mm but for a old private house that had the original glass in the door smashed and recreating it.
Just looking for the easiest way to do it.
But I also have another similar enquiry which is bigger with even more design work which would be a MAJOR headache so printing for that one would def be the only option. -
You could try screen printing it onto a clear polyester vinyl with a clear varnish with a say 10-20% white added. You could then lay in one piece with the clear vinyl not needing to be weeded.The polyester vinyl to use would be the same as is used on a lot of cosmetic bottles so it is crystal clear.
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