Etched Metal Signs

Custom Etched & Engraved Metal Signs

Etched Metal Signs are designed and designated to provide much more detail than Cast plaques.

Etched Metal Signs are mainly used to optimize and utilize the given space available with great detail, especially in times when there is not much space available, but an important message needs to be conveyed.

The etching process consists of chemicals and film that work together to cut into the metal only in the specified locations, leaving much sharper cuts for drawings, pictures and text.

Etched Metal Signs are available in numerous different types of metals, so please make sure to take a look at the
Metal Choices section in Etched Metal Signs along with the Graphics section.

Graphics

General
The etching process creates plaques with 2 levels of graphics–recessed and raised. Etched plaques are ideal for reproducing images with fine detail and small lettering. ADA compliant graphics can be created through deep-etching metal plaques.

Etching Depth
The depth achievable by acid-etching is dependent upon the letter styles or artwork being etched, as well as the size of the etched plaque.

  • Standard etching depths may range from .007 to .020″ depending upon size and detail of the artwork and the material selected.
  • Halftone photographs have a shallow etching depth of .003″-.007″.
  • Deep-etching to comply with ADA requirements is .032″ and may be accommodated, depending on the artwork, in all metals except aluminum.

Recessed
Graphic images and text are generally recessed on an etched plaque and infilled with a painted color. Brass alloys may be chemically oxidized with the recessed areas appearing as a darker color.

Raised
When raised graphics are specified, the background will be painted or chemically oxidized. Small lettering with fine serifs is not recommended for raised graphics.