 tching
is the ancient art of engraving with acid on metal. In
hard-ground etching, the plate (usually copper or zinc) is
given a thin coating of acid-resistant resin or otherwise
known as ground. In artistic etching, a needle is used to
expose the metal without penetrating it, drawing
the image on the metal. When the design is completed,
the plate is submerged in an acid solution that attacks the
exposed lines.
Etching by
all accounts seems to have originated in Germany, where
Albrecht Dürer's etchings on iron, made between 1510 and 1520, were
the earliest important examples of an art that would be
practiced in the following centuries by many of the greatest
draftsmen and painters, including Dürer, Jacques Callot,
Rembrandt, and
more recently Lloyd Ostby.
The processes of electrotyping become very widely used for
creating printing plates, plating metal objects, decorating
silverware and marking cutlery. In 1852, Charles V. Walker
documented and described all the processes that were
currently known in his book Electrotype Manipulation, which
went through 29 editions by 1859 and was also published in
the USA. Part II included detailed descriptions of Spencer
and Wilson's patented process which he called
"Electro-Etching," and another called "Electro-tint." In a
series of articles in The Photographic News in 1882, Major J
Waterhouse describes "Electric Etching" briefly. R S
Chattock describes the process of electro-etching much more
fully in his book Practical Notes on Etching published in
1886. The word "galvanography"
became synonymous with "electrotyping," basically meaning a
plate made by depositing metal over a mould, a process which
is called "galvanoplasty," though other processes of etching or
plating, which used the same electrolytic principles and
equipment were included in the original meaning.
Over
the last 40 years, significant technical refinements to
chemical etching and the electroplating processes for
industrial products have enabled broader commercial
usage for a wide variety of decorative and commercial
applications. Etchcraft is the recognized leader in
contemporary etching technologies; our expertise is
unrivaled.
These are the main components of the Etchcraft USA etching
and production process:
Permanent
Graphics
Etched graphics provide a two-dimensional, permanent
message
Durability
A clear protective coating enhances durability and resists
wear.
Precision &
Detail
Electronic artwork is transferred photographically via film
to plate, allowing extremely precise graphic placement and
fine detail.
Design
Flexibility
Virtually any size, shape, or style of plate can be
faithfully reproduced to your specifications. Specific color
matching is an option. Varying thicknesses of metal and
etch depths are available.
No
Minimums
Orders may be economically placed from one to thousands.
Mounting Methods
Plates can be manufactured with mounting holes, concealed
studs, or hi-bond adhesives.
No
Costly Tooling
Unlike many processes, there are no tooling charges.
Quick Lead Times
The etch manufacturing process allows a quicker response to
your production schedule requirements. |
