Custom PC - UK (2021-09)

Etching involves using a liquid solution that
eats into the surface of glass to create a
frosted look, requiring you to protect the
parts of the glass you want to remain as they
were. This means using masking sheet and,
for this reason, a cutting machine is highly
recommended if you want to save time or
deal with detailed designs. However, you can
alternatively use a scalpel and manually cut
out your masking for simpler designs.
Start by cleaning your tempered glass
panel thoroughly using warm soapy water,

then rinse it and wipe it clean. To create your

mask using a cutting machine, you’ll need to

use adhesive masking sheet, which is usually

available in A4 sheets or rolls. You can create

your image by uploading an image file into

the cutting machine’s software – we’ve used

the Flight Simulator logo as an example.

Use the software to cut into the masking,

enabling you to peel away sections you

want to expose to the etching cream. Use

a credit card or spatula to firmly press the

masking sheet onto the glass when you’re

done, in order to prevent the cream seeping

underneath the sheet.

Finally, apply the etching cream using

a brush and leave it on the glass for the

specified amount of time, but no more. If you

accidentally get some anywhere else, remove

it immediately with a damp cloth.

Once the cream has had its allotted time,

rinse it off thoroughly using warm water and

a sponge, but leave the masking in place.

Now dry off the panel and remove the

masking. It might look a little uneven at first, but

water can stick in the pattern for a few minutes

and will eventually dry.

ETCHING

Engraving is a fun and easy way to customise your PC, with its only
real drawbacks being its requirement for a steady hand, plenty of
time, a rotary tool with appropriate attachments and an appropriate
work surface. If your case is covered in fragile glass then you’ll need to
consider etching instead, but acrylic or metal panels are ideal surfaces
for engraving.

You can either engrave freehand using grinding tips for a rotary tool,

or trace out your design using carbon copy paper overlaid by an image of

your choice. A trick here is to head to an image editing program, such as

Paint.net, convert it to black and white and then invert the colours. This

will show you how your image might look once it’s engraved, and also

highlight the areas you need trace out into the carbon copy paper.

The engraving tips come in a few different shapes and sizes, but the

key ones have small and large ball tips that you can use to trace outlines

and fill in large areas respectively. They’re readily available for most

rotary tools and cheap to buy. Start by tracing the key lines in your image

ENGRAVING

Apply the etching cream using a brush and leave

it on the glass for the specified amount of time

Trace the outlines of the design using a

medium speed setting on your rotary tool

Use a ballpoint pen to draw over the lines and press the carbon image onto your case

When your masking sheet has been

cut out, firmly press it onto the glass