Using the proven method of photoresist stencil making, sandblasting images, designs or even photographs on a wide range of materials can be accomplished with amazing resolution and accuracy.

The process is usually referred to as Sand Carving, and whilst sand carving is most commonly used to etch glass, there seems to be an almost infinite number of applications and materials which sand carving can be applied to.

Although the process of sand carving is quite simple, the attention to detail and application of proven methods and procedures is essential to produce consistent results.

Types of Carving - Sand Carving Versus Laser Engraving

Sand Carving:    An old art that is seeing a new revival of late.  It's accomplished by cutting a mask, usually by hand, and hand "carving" glass, wood, plastics or metals to desired depths using a very accurate type of sand blasting machine.  This method can cut deep into glass giving you a more 3 dimensional look to the product!  Even the finest detail of a bitmaped photograph can be successfully etched in glass and other materials.  Sand carving has no boundaries when it comes to product shape.  Even ething in completely around a crystal orb is no problem at all.

Laser Engraving:  Lasers do a great consitent job and they thrive in situations of repetition.  Batches of hundreds and thousands of the same product with the same image can be performed very efficiently by laser machines.  Laser machines can be setup to etch around a cylinder (eg. wine bottle), although it takes an experienced operator to get this consistently correct.  The biggest drawback with lasers is the way the laser dissintegrates material to produce an etch.  Often the residual heat can darken wood or aneal metals in the areas where it engraves. With glass, the high heat involved can crack or shatter the glass if too much is applied, so lasers are only able to etch the surface of the glass rather than deep engrave it.  Only the very expensive laser setups are able to etch consistently around odd shaped objects.

Conclusion:  Both Sand Carving and Laser Engraving have their place, however you can definitely feel the soul in a piece which has been lovingly handcrafted by a glass artist.