Etsy's Handmade Blog
How-Tuesday: Glass Photo Etching
Story by daniellexo
Published on March 17, 2009 in How-To 		Photo by

daniellexo

Have you ever thought about trying glass etching? If so, I've got a project for you! I've taken cream glass etching to a new level by using PNP Blue Transfer Paper as a resist!  PNP Blue Transfer Paper was originally used to etch circuit boards and has recently been adapted to etch jewelry.  I tested this transfer out on glass and it works like a charm!  Use this photo-transferring method to create classy custom gifts.  In the project below, I etched a photo and quote by Martha Stewart for Time Out New York magazine. (See it here!)

supplies.JPG

Supplies

 

Step 1

step1.JPG

Scan or create your high contrast design using photo-editing software. Print out your design in high contrast black and white onto the PNP blue paper. (See the directions included.) You need to use a laser printer or take your design to a copy center and get it photocopied onto the PNP blue paper. (Remember to invert and flip your image!)

 

Step 2

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Make sure your flat piece of glass or mirror is clean and free of dust. With your iron set to cotton, start by tacking down a small corner of your design with the tip of the iron. Then glide the iron over the entire design smoothing out any bubbles. Lay the iron on the glass for 5 minutes.  Lift the iron and apply pressure to the entire design until the transfer is almost black. Remove the iron. After allowing the glass to cool, peel off the PNP blue paper.

step2peelaway.jpg

 

Step 3

 

step3contactpaper.jpg

Protect the rest of your piece with contact paper. Patch up any areas that the PNP blue may not have stuck to with nail polish (or small pieces of tape).

 

Step 4

 

step3etchingcream.jpg

Put on your rubber gloves (and any other safety gear you feel necessary). See how I'm not wearing gloves in the above photo? That is bad, bad, bad. 

Apply a thick layer of the Armour Etch cream with a foam brush. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then rinse.  

Remove your contact paper. If any of the toner from the PNP blue paper is left on your piece, remove that with a paper towel soaked in acetone (or nail polish remover). Clean with glass cleaner and you're done!

Tada! Here's a photo of the finished piece, graced with Martha's visage and her quote: "I catnap now and then, but I think while I nap, so it's not a waste of time." Cute!

If you make something using this technique please, let me know in the comments below! I'd love to see photos! Upload them to our Etsy Labs Show and Tell Flickr Pool, too!

More project downloads are available here! Check out all the How-Tuesday content!

Tags crafting, craft project, cream glass etching, etching, glass, glass photo etching, HOW-TO, How-Tuesday, Martha Stewart, photo transfer, photo transferring, projects, sellers, selling, supplies, TimeOut, tutorials
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72 comments     Login to add your own!

March 17, 2009 at 5:01 p.m. yummyandcompany

awesome! does this work on mirrors too?

March 17, 2009 at 5:05 p.m. BluCille

Looks neat and pretty easy.

March 17, 2009 at 5:06 p.m. coup

very interesting! I'm dying to try it!

March 17, 2009 at 5:08 p.m. Ryanplz

i love tuesdays, just because of these how to articles.
this one is really, really neat.
thanks for sharing!

March 17, 2009 at 5:10 p.m. craftgasm

Super cute, and easy-looking! (Like I needed another skill set to add to my "need to learn" list. Thanks a lot.) ;)

March 17, 2009 at 5:11 p.m. BabbidgePatch

looks like a fun project ~

the matching beer mugs are cute ~

March 17, 2009 at 5:14 p.m. redyellowandblueink

oh wow-too cool, gonna have to give that a try. Interesting stuff with the PNP Blue Transfer Paper.
Yummyandcompany-this should work on mirrors-they're just glass with a reflective backing.

March 17, 2009 at 5:22 p.m. uncharted

this is my favorite "how - to" so far, thanks!

March 17, 2009 at 5:22 p.m. noelleorozco

Awesome info. Cannot wait to try it myself!

March 17, 2009 at 5:26 p.m. humblebea

What a cool article and project....Martha is the best! (-:

March 17, 2009 at 5:36 p.m. GemmaBeads

That's a great method! Had to laugh at the "jewelry only" written on the iron. That's something you don't see everyday!

March 17, 2009 at 5:59 p.m. skycreation

Wow! Magic!
Thank you for a great how-to :)
I will not stop until every piece of glass in my house is etched!

March 17, 2009 at 6:10 p.m. lucybluestudio

That tutorial just gave me a million new ideas. Thanks for sharing!

March 17, 2009 at 6:16 p.m. juln

Cool tutorial!

I bought a huge sandblaster and took a class on using photoresist from a company in town that manufactures the stuff...

I probably would have gotten farther with some creme and an iron, I'm afraid!

People do think while they nap... don't they?

March 17, 2009 at 6:35 p.m. BululuGems

Lovely project ;D

March 17, 2009 at 7:32 p.m. beautifulbridget

Very cool!!!!!!!!!

March 17, 2009 at 7:46 p.m. BreadandBadger

What a cool way to use etching cream! I'm sad to say I've never had very good luck with the cream (I engrave with a drill and sandblast everything else), but I bet I would have had better results if I'd tried it this way.

Great way to get halftones, too!

March 17, 2009 at 9:02 p.m. sheenajewellery

nice to see "my" technique haha... being used on glass.I first learned etching at art school but didn't start using the pnp until later. I have quite a few pieces in my shop that I made using my photos from Japan and elsewhere...mostly of cactus for now. take a look if you like!

March 17, 2009 at 10:21 p.m. baconsquarefarm

Thanks for a lesson in glass etching, always wondered how they did this~ lots of great ideas, got my square brain thinkin outside the box~

March 17, 2009 at 10:27 p.m. SunflowerCreations

Very interesting, I love learning about what others are creating.Thanks for sharing!

March 17, 2009 at 10:29 p.m. christinececelia

oh- fun!

March 17, 2009 at 10:52 p.m. worksandfinds

Oh, that is cool.

March 17, 2009 at 11:10 p.m. MyJunkyTrunk

Now that's really neat!

March 18, 2009 at 12:24 a.m. bhangtiez

looks cool & easy...thanks 4 sharing

March 18, 2009 at 3:55 a.m. LoucheLab

I have an armor etch bottle I've been saving for a rainy day (or actually dreading to use because of all the warning on the label. I think it's time for me to give it a shot...

March 18, 2009 at 7:05 a.m. whyte

Oh just great, another got-to-try it project. I should never come to the storque.

March 18, 2009 at 7:25 a.m. MarcoLaGrenouille

great tutorial, thanks!

March 18, 2009 at 9:18 a.m. kikuhandmade

wear gloves,though! this stuff is dangerous. it has small amounts of hydroflouric acid - my brother got burns of a higher concentration of this stuff (much higher, cleaning car parts) and went to the hospital in intense pain - almost lost his fingertips! this stuff goes through the skin, doesn't hurt (at first) and seeks out bone and nerve tissue. be careful. but super, duper gorgeous - i wish it worked on fused glass!

March 18, 2009 at 9:35 a.m. EpicBones

woah, fancy town! glass etching, love it.

March 18, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. dogties

How cool!

March 18, 2009 at 10:37 a.m. Artieno

This is awesome! Woow!It's amazing how the end product comes out so beautiful, I just love it!

March 18, 2009 at 10:41 a.m. thestapeliacompany

Ooo! This makes me want to go etch something!

March 18, 2009 at 11:28 a.m. zombuki

Looks interesting but dangerous! Resin is as dangerous as I get ...

March 18, 2009 at 3:27 p.m. JAdamsDesigns

Too Cool! I'm gonna have to add this to my list of things I want to try!

March 18, 2009 at 4:04 p.m. urbbody

I am so going to try this...and funny quote, btw.

March 18, 2009 at 5:12 p.m. Mattamorphis

I adore etched glass

March 18, 2009 at 8:44 p.m. BargainHeadbands

I will definitely try this! Thanks for sharing, this is great ;)

March 19, 2009 at 8:11 a.m. lowrahk

Can the php resist be reused? How many pieces can be etched with a piece of pnp? any tips for doing a rounded bottle with this technique?

March 19, 2009 at 12:47 p.m. AmberLeaf

I use this stuff and it's GREAT! Armour has a line of reusable stencils that work around or on any surface! So...for bottles or any odd shaped piece the rubber stencils work beautifully! Thanks for this How-To!!!

March 19, 2009 at 3:24 p.m. aileen

Great how-to! I've used PNP for etching copper but didn't know it could work with glass too. Will definitely have to try this!

March 19, 2009 at 6:09 p.m. ruthshapiro

When rinsing the etching cream, don't rinse in your best porcelain sink-it will etch too! Also, there is a way to transfer images like you do without expensive PnP! I should think it would be fine with the Armour Etch. Convo me for directions!

March 19, 2009 at 9:27 p.m. Mattamorphis

Very cool

is that martha. Oh I bow down.

March 20, 2009 at 7:34 p.m. claunux

veeeeeeery interesting! nice

March 21, 2009 at 9:13 a.m. boci

I've etched glasses using cut out vinyl moose and trees. It's one of the side benefits of working at a sign shop. Check with your local sign shop and they might give away scrap vinyl for free. I'm always scrounging the trash at work!

March 21, 2009 at 3:42 p.m. TipsyTimeMachine

SAFETY TIPS
-Kikuhandmade is right about how dangerous the acid etching cream is! It will be absorbed through the skin, and eventually weaken your bones. PROTECT YOUR SKIN. So wear good rubber or nitrile gloves and be very careful not to puncture them or cut them on the glass.
-PROTECT YOUR EYES, wear safety glasses, or a face shield in case you get splashed when rinsing, or scrubbing with a toothbrush.
- PROTECT YOUR LUNGS The fumes are not healthy, so put on a fan, work outside, go to a Workplace Safety supply store and and ask for a respirator with detachable filters that will protect you from Ammonium and Sodium Bifluoride(and bring a list of any other chemicals that are in substances you work with such as lacquers, acetone and glues). The salespeople will help you find the right product.
-Scrape as much of the acid cream as you can back into the jar, it can be reused.(a flat edged plastic ice scraper, or paint scraper will work)
- Rinse the cream off into a plastic bowl, put in a lot of baking soda to neutralize the acid before you dispose of it or pour it down the sink. Keep adding baking soda until the bubbling stops.

I'm not trying to scare anyone, I've taken many classes where there is a laissez-faire attitude about safety. I've taught people of all ages, I think safety should always be a priority, and we should protect our good health.

March 22, 2009 at 11:28 p.m. Nyblaque

Thanks tipsytimemachine for the safety tips. I hope I can make it to Etsylabs monday..i would love to try this;-)

March 23, 2009 at 4:30 a.m. soap

oooh, that's so much easier than what i used to do. i'll dig out that etching solution again.

March 23, 2009 at 6:36 p.m. DzyMsLizzy

Guess I'll give the ol' etching supplies another go. Haven't tried any in a while. Did not know the cream could be re-used, or about the baking soda. Good to know, esp. since we're on a septic system!

I don't know about the photo thing, though. I do have a laser printer, but it is extremely picky about the kind of paper you put through.
It will paper jam just on a whim. It prefers standard paper...doesn't like photo paper or card stock. I fear the thin transfer paper may just bunch up inside and make a horrid mess.

March 24, 2009 at 2:14 p.m. ImagineMDD

Thanks so much! Do you know if the etching cream has a shelf life? I've always wanted to do this and my sad little bottle has been in the supply closet for a while. Now I'd really like to get going. :)

March 24, 2009 at 11:15 p.m. JudyThompsonArt

Very Kool...very detailed ..

March 24, 2009 at 11:32 p.m. VictorianInspired

Cool!

March 29, 2009 at 5:45 a.m. TipsyTimeMachine

You're welcome Nyblaque
ImaagineMDD - How old is your bottle? I've had mine for five years and it still works fine. You can get crystals if the cream gets too cold, the solution is to sit bottle in warm water for awhile. Then open the bottle and stir the cream (carefully while wearing gloves).
DzyMsLizzy - the baking soda will only neutralize the acid, but it won't remove any chemicals that you may not want in your septic system. The film is thin like acetate, so you may not have the same problems with it as with photo paper.

There are a couple of other etching creams that work - Velvet Etch and Etch All. Stained and fused glass supply stores should carry them.

March 29, 2009 at 10:03 p.m. metalicious

I love this tutorial! Very informative and made it seem easy (and safe) to do!

March 31, 2009 at 2:11 p.m. lovinganvil

wowie zowie. gracias a todos.

xoxox

March 31, 2009 at 2:25 p.m. ApertureAgog

After learning from Danielle how to do the basics at the labs last week, I can't wait to try this! Thank you.

March 31, 2009 at 2:41 p.m. DoodyPops

TipsyTimeMachine & kikuhandmade are right. People should realize that just because you can buy this does not mean its safe! I used to do silversmithing and could not believe what I saw done. Please wear gloves and watch you do not transfer to other surfaces while working with it.

March 31, 2009 at 2:57 p.m. PiperRiley

I am def going to try this!!! Thanks :)

March 31, 2009 at 2:58 p.m. KimsCraftyApple

WOW! This looks like so much fun! I've done glass etching before but never like this...excited to try it!

March 31, 2009 at 3:58 p.m. knittaddiction

This is a cute idea for using digital images.. I love digital because you can get detail you wouldn't otherwise get from doing it by hand... We did this in elementary school with contact paper cut outs and sticky stencils... And like someone else mentioned above, scraps and leftovers from vinyl shops are a great way to create templates! LOVE <3!

March 31, 2009 at 4:02 p.m. artbywinona

Thanks so much! I have been trying to remember where to get PNP Blue. I didn't realize Thompson Enamel carried it.

March 31, 2009 at 4:23 p.m. ThePuddingAlibi

Way to neat of an idea...when am I going to have time to do all the fun how-to's!!! Wait, I know, I don't need to sleep anymore...it's overrated anyway...I'll just drop that activity.

March 31, 2009 at 6:06 p.m. bon311

Great idea. If it's done on glassware or coffee cups, is it diswasher safe?

April 1, 2009 at 10:11 a.m. dordlor

I got to try this. It brings up a lot of ideas. I am a little concerned about the safety, however.

April 1, 2009 at 1:53 p.m. shellydaly

Does anyone know if this technique with the cream etch and the pnp paper would work on resin? thanks!

April 1, 2009 at 4:25 p.m. loudmatter

Does anyone know how to make this work on rounded glass?

April 3, 2009 at 9:45 a.m. beadlove2211

I have used Armor Etch in the past to make things on drinking glasses. I works very well. Its fun to!

April 6, 2009 at 2:39 a.m. TipsyTimeMachine

bon311 - etching gives the glass a frosted surface(similiar to sandblasting but with a smother texture), I haven't had any problems with glasses in my dishwasher.
shellydaly - The Armour etch is a glass acid - I don't know of any acids that you could use on a resin (or would be reltivelysafe), there are so many different recipies for plastics and resins.
loudmatter - If by rounded glass, you mean glass that has been fired, then no it won't work because the glass has changed chemically in the kiln firing, and is now much harder. Sandblasting is best for fired glass, I don't know if the PNP film can hold up to sandblasting abrasives, most people I know use vinyl stencils for sandblasting.

April 13, 2009 at 6:21 p.m. mleefipps

hmmmm... the mirror broke from the heat of the iron... what did I do wrong? I had it set on cotton, but it shattered! Maybe because of the age of the mirror?

April 20, 2009 at 12:49 p.m. ZombieIrish

This is awesome!! I've been wanting to do glass etching for a long time~

May 14, 2009 at 2:18 p.m. kathykatita

Hey your article is just awsome! but i was wondering if there is a way to do something like this but with colors. thnx~

Sept. 27, 2009 at 1:29 a.m. DzyMsLizzy

Ahh--thanks for reply... good to know about the other chemicals... then I guess that would have to be cleaned up in the outdoor washout sink, that empties into what amounts to a French drain, and does not go into the septic.

Oct. 22, 2009 at 2:11 p.m. LondonParticulars

Daniellexo, I just bought a huge bottle of Armour etch...I can't wait to try this what a GREAT tutorial, thanks!

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