Different types of Graffiti - Etching in detail

Also called “acid etching” or just “etching” , this is a style of graffiti in which a tag is inscribed onto a surface without the use of any paint but instead a corrosive substance such as acid. The history and true form of Dutch etching is a world apart from its graffiti counterpart as the process includes the use of Nitric Acid and a large mechanical device. In Graffiti, dutch etching is produced by using simple acid containing craft materials found in many craft stores and a container to transfer the acid onto the surface. The graffitist will usually “tag” or “signature” glass or plexiglass. The longer the acid is on the surface, the more it becomes inscribed into the material.

Original etching, also called scratchitti, is when a sharp object most likely a knife or key is used to “tag” or “signature” a non scratch resistant surface, most likely glass, plastic or types of metal. Etching is usually found on moving vehicles such as buses or trains so the tag can be seen by many people without being located in the area of the etcher.