The debate rages on: Do you etch your beads or not? Some people feel that every bead they make should be etched, at least, given a light etch so that the bead can be photographed without a glare. Others feel that not a single bead should be etched. Some feel that the only reason to etch a bead is to save it.
For our non glassy readers, to etch a bead means to put that bead in a solution or rub it with a cream to take the shine off of the bead.
I used to be a person who felt that no bead needed to be etched until...I had a bead that might be saved if it was etched. I did, and it was beautiful!
Now, there are times when I do like to etch a bead. Organic beads, I feel, look good etched. See the little orange and ivory nugget on the top right and bottom left. I do like the look of the organic etched. See the two beads where the white is encased in a transparent color? I think that etching makes the bead appear to glow from the inside. I like that look. See the blue bead? That little nugget seems to have an inner glow. I like the look better than the unetched beads on the upper right.
What do you think? To etch or not?
7 comments:
I agree Mallory, some beads look even better when they are etched. I know I've had a few that I didn't like and when I etched them they turned out to be quite stunning.
Some beads are better shiny - and it's all a matter of personal taste :o)
I like both, although the etched beads are so much easier to photograph. One bonus that I like is that sometimes the etching process removes reduction marks on the the beads. Score!
I usually only etch if the bead is really ugly in an attempt to save it. Having said that, I am working on a set of beads that the plan from the very beginning has been to etch them. Never etch? always etch? In my opinion the fewer rules the better.
I love the glow of a transparent that has been etched. That being said, I quit etching very many beads quite a while ago. . .I think I fell in love again with the shiny texture for a while. Ummm, that's just it, though, "for a while". Etching is one of those wonderful phases that comes and goes at just the right times for me. Oh, and the orange and ivory is so pretty etched!!
hi Mallory..
I love the look of the etched bead
it makes it seem so casual..
guess I'm a jeans and t-hirt kinda gal..
have a sunny weekend..
mona & the girls
loving the etch!
I usually don"t etch my beads, but only because by the time that I get them off from the mandrel and cleaned, I want to be done with them!
I do think that many of the transparent color just POP when they are etched. Hmmmm, that gives me an idea.... I think I'll make some of my silvered ivory bicones on a transparent base and then etch them.
My word verification to post this is "sesseep". Maybe I should call them sesseep beads. Nah - *I* couldn't even remember that!
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