Enclosure etching - I need your opinions/tips on this graphic

[Branimir]

Hello!

I have never etched an enclosure yet, and think I'm gonna try with a 1590B, a one knob, one switch and a led on the top surface...

Here is my etching template (not mirrored of course, I'll reverse the image to cover the non etching parts)

This is 300dpi jpg, a bit smaller than the 1590B of course...

Is it possible to etch to look like this? Are there to many details? What should I look out for? Are some lines too small? Thanks!



ps: this is NOT going to be a commercial pedal, I build it for myself and like the works of Alfons Mucha 

[flo]

Perhaps you should remove the "noise" in the white area's and make them totally white again.

[Branimir]

Yeah, think I should do it, at least make it less noisy, I tried to print it on white paper and my printer cannot print so much detail (the noise), I should remove much of the noise to make it easier to print, and still to have some dots here and there, dunno... I reckon my etching will be messy so I'll have noise even if I live the space blank! heh

[flo]

On the other hand, perhaps the "noise" will come out beautifully! ... decisions, decisions ...

[reverbie]

Won't you need to etch with the negative though?

[Branimir]

yes of course, i haven't mirrored and inverted this picture, I know i have to make a negative of this to etch it

[rogerinIowa]

I think it is totally possible...personally I would clean up the noise a little but that is your call. Cool graphic, too.

[markm]

Whatever you decide, it won't come out as crystal clear as the image you have but should be close. If you wish the detail I would suggest not leaving it in the solution very long, keeping it cool and rinsing frequently. A good mask is crucial here.
Both of these involve some detail;





Good luck with it and greetings to all!
  --MarkM--

[Branimir]

Thanks, I will reduce the noise, at least my printer won't print it all and it looks a lot better without all those spots and it's still quite detailed though.

I have never etched an enclosure before, how deep does the solution etch into the aluminum?  Btw I have purchased PNP blue, I suppose I have to use a laser printer to print on it, right?

Is there a way to paint the enclosure, but not the etched parts?  Suppose the enclosure is etched and finished, I paint it white with a spray can paint, then I print again the pnp negative and apply it to the painted top, and the paint over the pnp with black? Then removing the pnp by hand, I should get black paint in to the etched parts and white should be under pnp where it was protected? Is this doable?

[GREEN FUZ]

Is there a way to paint the enclosure, but not the etched parts?  Suppose the enclosure is etched and finished, I paint it white with a spray can paint, then I print again the pnp negative and apply it to the painted top, and the paint over the pnp with black? Then removing the pnp by hand, I should get black paint in to the etched parts and white should be under pnp where it was protected? Is this doable?

I believe you`ll be opening yourself to a world of frustration by attempting this. You`ll have massive problems with registration not to mention trying to remove the PNP from the white paint. I fear you could end up witha huge mess on your hands. It might be possible if you were using a simpler image.

Good luck in any case.

I`m a huge fan of Mucha too. The image you`ve chosen should work out well although I`d be more concerned with the broad areas of black than the finer lines.