Diamond Hand Etching Process
View laser etchings
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View hand etchings
View laser etchings
Custom hand etchings are free-hand drawings executed by Gingrich Memorials on
staff artist. Etchings are drawings which are made using a diamond tipped tool
that permanently engraves the image directly into the polished surface of the
granite. This technique is very similar to scrimshaw. Darker granites can only
be etched resulting in the high contrast between the dark granite and the almost
white etching. Any scene or image can be etched into the granite surface
creating an image that will stand the test of time.
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When a customer purchases an etching Gingrich
Memorials artist draws a scale drawing for approval.
This same drawing is then transferred onto the granite using a wax transfer
paper. From this transfer
the artist has an exact copy of the drawing the customer approved. A wax pencil
can also be used
to help highlight areas of the transfer.
A dremel engraving tool with a diamond tip is used to etch away the
polish of the monument.
Once the etching is complete a white highlight is applied to the etching. This
simply allows the etching
to still be visible when the monument gets wet from either rain or dew.
Tools that the etcher uses are the dremel with a diamond tip, wax transfer
paper, wax pencils,
t-squares, triangles and the white highlight.
Click here to view
hand etched monuments.
Click
here to view the process of creating the Civil War Monument
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Laser Etching Process
Gingrich Memorials also houses one of the only laser etching
machines in Pennsylvania. Images can be lasered from any high quality photograph
or drawing. The laser etching machine actually burns the polish from the surface
of the granite leaving behind the white image. Completely operated by computers,
the laser can achieve almost exact copies of images given the original image is
of high quality.
Click here to view a sample of our laser etching images.
History of Etching
Etching has been a technique used by artists for thousands of years. From ancient Egypt to Europe in the middle ages and up until today, etching has been and still is a specialized technique.
The image here is of the falcon god Horus from ancient Egypt. He was known as the prince of the gods and the specific patron of the living ruler. This photograph was taken in the Temple of Dendera dedicated to the pharaoh Ptolemy III in central Egypt. One can see that even through the course of several thousand years the granite has remained relatively perfect. The etched part of the granite has still retained its original "white" appearance. This image contains both carving and etching. The feathers have been etched into the surface and the face has been lightly carved to show depth.
Below are a links to sites with information regarding the history of etching.
History
of Scrimshaw
(Scrimshaw is very similar to etching today. This site link gives great
information about scrimshaw.)
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Etched Monuments
Etchings are a unique way to personalize a monument.
Etching prices are based on the size of the etching. Scene etchings are based on
the size of the monument and spot etchings are based on the dimensions of the
image.
Below are all etchings from our staff artist.
Click on an image to view the entire
etching.
Pet etchings
