As you might know by now, etching is a marking medium that uses mordants (or acids, as these are commonly called) to create the designs that you can see on etched plaques and signs. This particular method is often chosen by those who need their signs and plaques to carry very detailed and intricate designs that other marking methods cannot accomplish. Etching is also the manufacturing choice of entities who want their signs and their plaques to have that 3-dimensional look that makes a person stop and stare at the sign.
With this in mind, what kinds of plaques and signs can one make with this particular marking technique? Are there limitations to what you can create with the use of etching, or is your imagination the limit? Where is etching commonly used and what kinds of plaques and signs can one make with this particular marking medium?
Etching, as a way of making signs and plaques, is only ideal when you are using either glass or metal as your material. Since etching is a method that eats away at the unprotected surface of these particular materials, you will find that plastic, wood and stone are not usable with this marking method. This means that if you are thinking of using etching for your signs or plaques, you will be limited to the use of only glass or metal as materials of choice.
Material choice however, is probably the only limitation you have with etching. When it comes to details, designs, and such, you can run freely with your ideas since this method allows for very intricate and detailed designs to be made. How well your designs come out however, is dependent on the manufacturer you choose to work with.
Some of the etched plaques and signs you see around you utilize this particular marking method because of this particular quality. The fact that you can create very meticulous and very elaborate designs easily with this method makes it great for a number of things. Here are some of the more common ways people utilize etching for their needs:
Commemorative plaques – you see these outside buildings, inside buildings, in open spaces, or any place where someone, an event, or something is to be commemorated. Examples of such plaques are those that tell you of a historical event that occurred in an area, those that indicate when an important invention was made in a specific spot, and where a figure in history was born or killed. These plaques can carry not only the details of these events, but also the images of the people or objects being talked about, the date of such happenings and even the names of whoever was involved in such milestones in history.
Directories – you can also find directories being made using this particular marking method. More often than not however, directories made using etching as the marking medium are usually those that are permanent, which means that whatever is written on these plaques won’t change anytime soon. This is often the marking method of choice for directories that show who is in what position at certain huge businesses, where permanent offices and rooms can be found, and other similar information.
Company Name and Logo – this is also one of the most common uses of etched plaques and signs – to show people what company occupies a particular building or establishment. These signs are usually found at the reception area of such establishments, or mounted outside these buildings so that people will easily know who the occupants of such a place are.