söövitades

Söövitades is an Estonian word that translates to "etching" in English. It refers to a process used to engrave or decorate surfaces, typically metal, glass, or stone, by using corrosive substances. The principle involves selectively removing material from a surface to create a design or pattern.

In practice, a protective coating, often called a resist, is applied to the surface. The desired design is then created by removing the resist in those areas that are intended to be etched. Once the resist is removed, the object is exposed to an etchant, which is a chemical solution that attacks and dissolves the exposed material. The longer the exposure or the stronger the etchant, the deeper the corrosion will be. After etching, the resist is removed, leaving the etched design behind.

This technique has a long history and is employed in various fields. In industry, it's used for manufacturing printed circuit boards, where copper is etched away to create the conductive pathways. It's also utilized in creating decorative patterns on glassware and metalwork, as well as in the production of printing plates. The specific chemicals used as etchants vary depending on the material being worked on, with common examples including acids for metals and bases for glass.