What is glass etching?

Glass etching is the abrading or roughening of a piece of glass in selected areas in order to produce a design. It is a way to produce a “frosted” design on the surface of a piece of glass, but it is much more than that! It can also be used to carve a design deep into the glass or to produce a shaded design that looks like delicate airbrushing but is permanently etched in the glass. Using the same equipment and techniques, it is also possible to etch or carve on stone, ceramic or wood, and even to etch designs on metal!

"The one that got away".This etched door panel created by a student in one of Norm & Ruth Dobbins, seminars on How to Etch Architectural Glass. Pre-cut stencil available from Design Book 1 updates available here and to Design System subscribers.)

The kind of etching we are talking about here is abrasive, or sandblast etching - by far the most widely used method of glass etching and the one with the biggest variety of effects. But how do you learn to etch glass? After all, you can’t just go down to your local hobby shop and find a class on etching. And chances are your local book store or library won’t even have one how-to book on etching on their shelf, because these books are few and far between! Well, you’ve come to the right place! We can teach you everything you will ever want to know about abrasive glass etching, including all the techniques, equipment, safety procedures - even about how to sell your etchings at a profit! On this web site, we will give you basic information about glass etching and show you how you can learn more.

You can actually learn how to etch glass, from beginning to advanced, with books and videos you can purchase right here on the site. (By the way, if you do find a book on etching at your local library or bookshop, chances are it will be ours, sinced we have written just about the only books currently being published about glass etching.)

How this site is organized

Understanding glass etching
This is basic information about glass etching - what it is, how you do it, what you can make with it, why it is so popular. Here you can learn about techniques, materials, equipment, projects, designs and more. Even an experienced glass etcher can learn something here.

Learn glass etching NOW!
This is how you actually learn to etch glass yourself - from beginning to advanced - by instructional videotapes, books, or by seminar. These instructional materials are written and produced by professionals who have been in the etching business for over 25 years, etching glass and teaching others how to do it.

Go on to the next page!