What is an “Imitation Etch”

Imitation etch is a special pad printing ink used for producing an etch-like effect on glass products.

Advantages of imitation etching

• Much more affordable than real etching.
• Can brand curved or uneven products.
• Produces a subtle finish with a higher perceived value that looks like etching.

Limitations of imitation etched printing

• Halftones cannot be consistently reproduced.
• The size of branding areas is limited on curved surfaces.
• Requires a curing period before the product can be shipped.
• Unable to print variable data.

Artwork Requirements for imitation etching products

• Artwork must be supplied in a vector editable format.
• Fonts are advised to be converted to outlines/objects to avoid font conflicts.

Examples of products that can be imitation-etched

Below are some of the products that can have a imitation etched finish for you. The featured image may not be of an imitation etched product (that's because many of our items can be branded in different ways).

Learn about the advantages and limitations of each branding option we offer, view the full range here.