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Looks like etched glass — but it’s a…

| Posted in General Discussion on May 16, 2001 04:37am

*
I’m searching for a product I saw a while ago on one of the TV home shows. Instead of sand-etching glass, this manufacturer puts a photographic image on thin film between two sheets of glass. From a reasonable distance, the frosted photograph looks like etching.

Much cheaper and more flexible than hand-etched glass, because a custom image can be used — it’s a photographic process, not a craft process.

Of course, I can’t remember the manufacturer — or even the home show.

Can anyone out there help me with this?

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  1. Courtney_Ostaff | May 09, 2001 09:44pm | #1

    *
    Try here: http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Arts_and_Crafts/Visual_Arts/Glass/Etched_Glass/

    There are several things you can do to simulate etched glass.
    1) You can make a template out of a stiff plastic, such as that used for stenciling, and essentially make a stencil of the design you want, and then spray paint with a "frost" paint. (often sold at Christmas to simulate frost on the windows)
    2) Lowes sells a plastic stick-on "etching" that actually looks pretty good.
    3) You can buy a home-etching kit - I 'think' Renovators sells them.
    Hope this helps.

    1. Jeff_Walden | May 09, 2001 11:22pm | #2

      *Thanks, but I'm looking for a commercial product or service that laminates a custom-produced film between two sheets of glass. I have seen this on one or another of the home shows, but no longer know which one.

      1. Ian.D.Gilham. | May 10, 2001 12:29am | #3

        *Photoshop will produce an 'etched glass' image, an inkjet printer will reproduce this on A3 transparency film, this can be placed between two layers of glass.If you can't find a company that will do the whole thing, perhaps a custom Art company could at least produce the printed film for you.

        1. splintergroupie_ | May 11, 2001 08:05am | #4

          *i Much cheaper and more flexible than hand-etched glass, because a custom image can be used -- it's a photographic process, not a craft process. Jeff, did you know you can make an actual rubber resist to use for sandblasting the real thing with great detail, done photographically? Gravestove manufacture's use this to customize headstones, too. I've seen it done, can get more info if you want.

          1. Tremmelle_White | May 11, 2001 04:28pm | #5

            *Jeff,I not sure if this is what you're looking for, but there is a product called "Illusions" Glass Film Overlay. One source is at http://www.outwater.comThey have a variety of themes and it is reasonably priced. I hope this helps.Tremmelle

          2. Don_Reinhard | May 13, 2001 09:03am | #6

            *I etch glass for a living. It ain't cheap to etch large areas w/ a custom design. The basic cost, just for materials, starts at about 8 cents /sq inch for the artist's cost for resist material that has the pattern in it, unless, of course, you are just evenly frosting a large part of the area. Then you start adding overheads, labor, etc. Gravestone etchers usually use a rubber or vinyl material and have a computer-driven knife cut the pattern. I use a photo process w/ a special UV sensitive film and essentially make a contact print that is a near perfect match of the original artwork. If you have your artwork, you can go to a vinyl sign maker, and they can make a thin film vinyl pattern that is fairly reasonable, and will survive sand blasting very nicely. Doors usually have tempered glass in them. Sand blasting that is very tricky. On the other hand, etching glass panels then having them tempered is risky. No tempering firm will guaranty that they will not break the panel when tempering. Note that all tempered panels have a "Tempering Bug" etched in one corner after they are tempered, so they can, indeed be safely etched. Order of magnitude cost for a full size panel in a 3-0, 6-8 door - about $800. Don't blame you for wanting something sandwiched between two sheets of glass. Good luck.Don Reinhard

          3. adrianne_ | May 16, 2001 04:37am | #7

            *Bet you can get an answer at http://www.hgtv.com, on the crafts board, most likely. Those people know EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING. Even tho' it's not a crafty thing, someone will know about it and direct you, I'm sure. Just because it's a craft site, doesn't mean they don't know anything else. You'd be surprised. Try it. Sounds like a Lynette Jennings episode to me.

  2. Jeff_Walden | May 16, 2001 04:37am | #8

    *
    I'm searching for a product I saw a while ago on one of the TV home shows. Instead of sand-etching glass, this manufacturer puts a photographic image on thin film between two sheets of glass. From a reasonable distance, the frosted photograph looks like etching.

    Much cheaper and more flexible than hand-etched glass, because a custom image can be used -- it's a photographic process, not a craft process.

    Of course, I can't remember the manufacturer -- or even the home show.

    Can anyone out there help me with this?

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