etsaukset

Etsaukset is a Finnish term that refers to etchings or etching processes. The word is used primarily in two contexts: visual arts and materials science/manufacturing. In both, the core idea is the removal of material to create a pattern, line, or texture, but the scales, techniques, and purposes differ.

In the arts, etsaukset describe prints produced by etching, a traditional intaglio technique. A metal plate is coated with a resist ground, and the artist draws into the ground to expose the metal. The plate is then submerged in an acid bath (or exposed to a similar chemical) that bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves that hold ink. After inking and wiping the surface, the plate is run through a press to transfer the image to paper. Variants include line etching, aquatint, and combinations with drypoint or mezzotint. Etching became prominent in Europe from the 16th century and is associated with artists such as Rembrandt and Goya, among others. The practice emphasizes mark-making, tonal variation, and the possibility of repeated impressions from a single plate.

In industry and science, etsaukset refer to etching processes used to remove material from substrates to form patterns or microstructures. There are two broad families: wet etching, which uses chemical solutions to dissolve material, and dry etching, which relies on plasmas or reactive gases. Etching is fundamental in semiconductor fabrication, MEMS, microfluidics, and surface engineering. Key considerations include control of etch rate, selectivity to masking materials, anisotropy, and sidewall roughness, as well as safety and chemical handling.

See also: etching, intaglio printing, semiconductor fabrication, microfabrication.