{"id":2998,"date":"2012-03-01T19:03:27","date_gmt":"2012-03-01T15:03:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/inchscaled.com\/2012\/03\/photo-etching-in-miniature\/"},"modified":"2014-12-25T22:33:37","modified_gmt":"2014-12-25T19:33:37","slug":"photo-etching-in-miniature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/en\/2012\/03\/photo-etching-in-miniature\/","title":{"rendered":"Photo etching in miniature"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;m still playing with photo etching, the results are not always good, but, as usual, the process is much more fun than result. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<p>Actually the process itself is quite easy, but you need to follow several rules not to screw it up. I&#8217;ve found several good videos about photo etching in Russian, but I&#8217;m sure there&#8217;s even more in English out there. My tutorial will not be complete without them.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/picasaweb.google.com\/lh\/photo\/vwvAXhrEclsqSYBzdL8kKNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/imgproxy.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly9saDQuZ29vZ2xldXNlcmNvbnRlbnQuY29tLy1qS2N3V3V3THpIRS9UMDktRkNFYzNLSS9BQUFBQUFBQWJjMC9LNkt1UGxNMzNqYy9zNjQwL2luY2hzY2FsZWQlMjUyMDAwOC5qcGc%3D\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>So, here&#8217;s\u00a0 the list of things you need to have:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Photoresist (I&#8217;ve found one in spray, and the one that I use is film photo resist). It can be positive and negative, in my case it&#8217;s negative.<\/li>\n<li>Ultra-violet lamps, I have two, 25 W each.<\/li>\n<li>For etching you&#8217;ll need\u00a0 either old school ferric chloride or Ammonium Persulfate. I used both, both worked just fine for me.<\/li>\n<li>You&#8217;ll also need varnish for metals like zapon lacquer. I use it to cover the opposite side of the copper or brass, so it wouldn&#8217;t be etched.<\/li>\n<li>NaOH<\/li>\n<li>Transparent film for inkjet to print you pattern on it.<\/li>\n<li>Brass or copper<\/li>\n<li>Printer \ud83d\ude42<\/li>\n<li>Containers for etching.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>At first we need to make a pattern for etching, it can be done in any editor you like. The photoresist I&#8217;m using is negative so you need to keep in mind that the details that are black will be etched. Then we print the design on transparent film, actually we print two copies of them, because then we&#8217;ll align these two as accurately as possible.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/picasaweb.google.com\/lh\/photo\/aLu00bAtZVfhLMo7d1twp9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/imgproxy.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly9saDUuZ29vZ2xldXNlcmNvbnRlbnQuY29tLy1IeER2YjAzTVBSTS9UMDktRUpENV9aSS9BQUFBQUFBQWJjcy9BNlM1bG9rbXJpay9zNjQwL2luY2hzY2FsZWQlMjUyMDAwMS5qcGc%3D\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Now we need to cut the metal, in my case, copper.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/picasaweb.google.com\/lh\/photo\/Xv00LqgF4-oXoTv1tRQf2tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/imgproxy.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly9saDMuZ29vZ2xldXNlcmNvbnRlbnQuY29tLy1oUk1FdmthUTVkdy9UMDktRjhXNGpKSS9BQUFBQUFBQWJjOC9yVzk2X1NqbDJMOC9zNjQwL2luY2hzY2FsZWQlMjUyMDAwOS5qcGc%3D\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Then we need to clean the metal with\u00a0 sandpaper, for example. I also wash it with detergent and I dry it afterwards.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/picasaweb.google.com\/lh\/photo\/O6K_YrwwBuxMGxxJ-Qq1vdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/imgproxy.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly9saDQuZ29vZ2xldXNlcmNvbnRlbnQuY29tLy1wSi12dHlIalRGRS9UMDktRzNtdFh1SS9BQUFBQUFBQWJkQS9Xb1E0cktTNXVZQS9zNjQwL2luY2hzY2FsZWQlMjUyMDAxNC5qcGc%3D\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Then I cover the opposite sides of the copper with zapon varnish. It dries very quickly.<\/p>\n<p>Now I place film photoresist on the copper, you need to do it in a dark room.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/picasaweb.google.com\/lh\/photo\/6apumymsT3mubtTHUtL_L9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/imgproxy.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly9saDQuZ29vZ2xldXNlcmNvbnRlbnQuY29tLy1OcG5uRHQ1Uk1Idy9UMDktSloyck51SS9BQUFBQUFBQWJkTS9JcVRuemlPT1gwZy9zNjQwL2luY2hzY2FsZWQlMjUyMDAyMy5qcGc%3D\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>After that I heat these pieces just a bit, so that photoresist would stick to copper better. And I also need to make sure that there are no bubbles.<\/p>\n<p>Now I put the film with the design on the copper plates.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/picasaweb.google.com\/lh\/photo\/JdCL2U483YOArnEwUl2e0NMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/imgproxy.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly9saDQuZ29vZ2xldXNlcmNvbnRlbnQuY29tLy1tSTZvQVRsV0M4cy9UMDktU3BHQ25DSS9BQUFBQUFBQWJlWS81anZDOWw1c2QtRS9zNjQwL2luY2hzY2FsZWQlMjUyMDA1Ni5qcGc%3D\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Aaand, put them all under the glass sheet and leave it for several minutes, depends on your lamp.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/picasaweb.google.com\/lh\/photo\/5uyV3fp7YYtWvDFZkeF2DdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/imgproxy.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly9saDUuZ29vZ2xldXNlcmNvbnRlbnQuY29tLy1GdFliTm5fYUhsVS9UMDktS2VDc2NpSS9BQUFBQUFBQWJkVS9xck1rQzIwNDliUS9zNjQwL2luY2hzY2FsZWQlMjUyMDAyNS5qcGc%3D\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The lights are on:<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/picasaweb.google.com\/lh\/photo\/BiN9Y0HeIRZ7TszZjynmcNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/imgproxy.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly9saDYuZ29vZ2xldXNlcmNvbnRlbnQuY29tLy1QOThoSExZZlcyVS9UMDktSzdVVDMxSS9BQUFBQUFBQWJkYy9Bc21PbVJFY2ZaUS9zNjQwL2luY2hzY2FsZWQlMjUyMDAzMi5DUjIuanBn\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Now I put the metal into NaOH, here it is,\u00a0 it worked!<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/picasaweb.google.com\/lh\/photo\/QRLo2dFUgkv09rEWXNNlytMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/imgproxy.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly9saDMuZ29vZ2xldXNlcmNvbnRlbnQuY29tLy1Ld3c2eUk0eWRYWS9UMDktTHdhTWhrSS9BQUFBQUFBQWJkay81ZElucjJnWXMxUS9zNjQwL2luY2hzY2FsZWQlMjUyMDAzNC5qcGc%3D\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Not perfect, the metal sheet was not perfectly flat here.\u00a0 Well, okay, another lesson for me, moving on.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/picasaweb.google.com\/lh\/photo\/pID5h3tGmDF-TnZoyzRYjNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/imgproxy.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly9saDQuZ29vZ2xldXNlcmNvbnRlbnQuY29tLy0tUk05N01XcmtCNC9UMDktTTdodExZSS9BQUFBQUFBQWJkcy82VW9LOTZ6QVhFRS9zNjQwL2luY2hzY2FsZWQlMjUyMDAzNS5DUjIuanBn\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nNow we can start etching with ammonium persulfate or ferric chloride. Here I tried both:<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/picasaweb.google.com\/lh\/photo\/Ry1UCeuVfU6J-eBy5jlWvdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/imgproxy.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly9saDUuZ29vZ2xldXNlcmNvbnRlbnQuY29tLy0yVVBKcTN4NzIyMC9UMDktTmgzamxBSS9BQUFBQUFBQWJkdy9hcTR2WExrNFVEWS9zNjQwL2luY2hzY2FsZWQlMjUyMDA0MC5KUEc%3D\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In progress:<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/picasaweb.google.com\/lh\/photo\/UEnJxx_ewqt35cilSmGgOdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/imgproxy.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly9saDYuZ29vZ2xldXNlcmNvbnRlbnQuY29tLy1LWG5nUWdseDhhdy9UMDktT3hOdmVXSS9BQUFBQUFBQWJkOC8wMWVac2J3b2lhVS9zNjQwL2luY2hzY2FsZWQlMjUyMDA0Ni5KUEc%3D\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>And here how it looks with ferric chloride:<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/picasaweb.google.com\/lh\/photo\/Rvsq-CKUS5zTMCMzFeQ3VdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/imgproxy.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly9saDMuZ29vZ2xldXNlcmNvbnRlbnQuY29tLy1US0owcEVxUks0MC9UMDktUDREOExpSS9BQUFBQUFBQWJlRS93QTRtUXZZLWtXZy9zNjQwL2luY2hzY2FsZWQlMjUyMDA1MC5qcGc%3D\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>After several minutes we wash it thoroughly, and that&#8217;s about it.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/picasaweb.google.com\/lh\/photo\/2RHPzdM5IaxSLq4KGTP29tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/imgproxy.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly9saDQuZ29vZ2xldXNlcmNvbnRlbnQuY29tLy1KNmEyeGwzSGVkVS9UMDktUTVycDdUSS9BQUFBQUFBQWJlTS8xTDA4X21VY1VhNC9zNjQwL2luY2hzY2FsZWQlMjUyMDA1Mi5qcGc%3D\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/picasaweb.google.com\/lh\/photo\/UhmWBARdU7KOPbOoi9gJ9NMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/imgproxy.php?url=aHR0cHM6Ly9saDMuZ29vZ2xldXNlcmNvbnRlbnQuY29tLy1sN3dVVXNxbEF1by9UMDktVUt4ckdGSS9BQUFBQUFBQWJlZy81WU1HbXJ4eUs4TS9zNjQwL2luY2hzY2FsZWQlMjUyMDA2MS5KUEc%3D\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;m still playing with photo etching, the results are not always good, but, as usual, the process is much more fun than result. \ud83d\ude42 Actually the process itself is quite easy, but you need to follow several rules not to screw it up. I&#8217;ve found several good videos about photo etching in Russian, but I&#8217;m [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_vp_custom_popup_image":0,"_vp_format_audio_url":"","_vp_album_images":[],"_vp_custom_thumbnail":0,"_vp_custom_thumbnail_focal_point":[],"_vp_custom_thumbnail_cover":0,"_vp_hover_thumbnail":0,"_vp_hover_thumbnail_focal_point":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[340],"tags":[537,510],"class_list":["post-2998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-metalwork","tag-metalwork-2","tag-wip-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2998"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2998\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3395,"href":"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2998\/revisions\/3395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/victoriamorozovaminiatures.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}