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Glite Dictionary
to photoetch

to photoetch

9.5
To cut fine lines or patterns into metal using light and chemicals
  • verb
  • Specialized
translation icon : fotograbar
  • Specialists photoetch intricate designs onto jewelry for a unique finish.

Examples

  • The artist will photoetch intricate designs on metal.

  • Modern manufacturing often uses machines to photoetch precise components for electronics.

  • The company photoetched the metal plates to create detailed circuit patterns.

  • Can you photoetch this aluminum sheet?

  • The artist used chemicals to photoetch delicate designs onto the metal surface.

  • To create the intricate patterns, the jeweler will photoetch the silver with a special process.

  • He decided to photoetch his artwork onto a sheet of copper for a more detailed effect.

Synonyms

to engrave
vsto photoetch
47 5.2

To cut words and pictures into a hard surface like metal or wood

focuses on a photographic chemical method that makes very fine metal lines
to etch
vsto photoetch
18 5.5

To cut a design into metal or glass with a sharp tool

uses a photographic process and chemicals to make very fine lines
to etch a design
vsto photoetch
6.5

To cut a pattern into glass, metal, or wood

uses a photographic chemical process to produce very fine metal patterns

How Fine

to photoetch
  • Specialized
9.5
to engrave
47 5.2
to etch
18 5.5
to score
20 7.0
to scratch
161 1.1

Surface Forms

photoetch infinitive
photoetched past
photoetched past participle
photoetching present participle
photoetches third person singular

Morphology

photoetch = etch (semi-transparent) = photo + etch

The verb is clearly built from 'photo' + 'etch', but the technical photographic process makes the full meaning somewhat specialized rather than fully obvious.

Etymology

Photoetch combines photo- meaning 'light' (as in photograph) and etch meaning 'to cut a surface'. It describes using a photographic method and chemicals to 'cut' fine lines into metal, which is exactly what the verb means today.