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Reference for workshops that etch. Written around the variables that decide a result, not the ones that appear on a datasheet.
Zinc versus magnesium plate
Two metals, four differences that matter: etch speed, detail retention, weight and cost per sheet.
What undercut is and how additive oil controls it
The etchant cuts sideways as well as down. Everything about fine detail comes back to managing that.
Coated versus uncoated plate
Buying the coating means buying consistency and a shelf life; coating in house means the reverse.
Powderless etching explained
What powdering used to do mechanically, an additive now does chemically and continuously.
Choosing plate thickness against etch depth
Depth is set by the job, thickness by the depth plus what has to remain underneath it.
Handling and storing plate
Most plate that is scrapped was damaged before exposure, and almost all of that damage is preventable.
Tell us the plate size and thickness you need
Send the size, thickness, metal and whether you want the plate coated or uncoated. If you also need additive, developer or a machine, say so and we will quote the process rather than the item.