Buyer’s Guide / Etched Plaques
Buyer’s GuideEtched plaques bring intricate artwork to life with incredible detail — ideal for photographs, building renderings, crests, and small type on a clean, flat surface.
Complex designs are chemically etched into the surface of bronze, brass, or stainless steel, creating shallow recessed areas that are paint-filled for contrast. The result is a crisp, finely detailed design on a single-level, flat surface.
Etched plaques can be made from three metals. Bronze and brass offer a classic appearance, while stainless steel provides a modern look and excellent corrosion resistance.
Bronze (Alloy C22000)Classic architectural tone; develops a warm patina outdoors over time.
Brass (Alloy C46400)Bright, golden look with high contrast when paint-filled.
Stainless Steel (Alloy C304)Contemporary silver-gray; excellent in humid or coastal settings.
Maximum size depends on material thickness. We’ll spec the best option for your size and location.
Etched plaques come standard with paint-filled recessed text and graphics. Raised text and graphics are available as an option, with some stroke and artwork limitations. On a raised plaque, the background is painted, leaving the text or graphics in the alloy color.
Choose between two edge styles for your made-to-order plaque. Note that the edge color matches the fill color.
We offer a selection of standard background colors, or you can provide your own custom paint color. Standard plaque paint colors have a satin finish. For multi-color paint fill, an additional charge applies per color, and further colors are available on request.
Etched plaques come in a variety of finishes depending on the metal. Horizontal grain is standard; vertical grain is optional.
We offer four clear coat options to seal your plaque for a long-lasting installation.
A clear coat for harsh environments is available on request at no charge. We recommend it for plaques installed on posts, stakes, fences, gates, benches, or anywhere the back will be exposed to the elements. A blind stud mount, screws, or thru-hole mount is required for this option.
Sketches or drawings can be reproduced into a clean black-and-white line drawing for etching, with no halftone screening. Etched photos use halftone images that resemble newspaper photographs, with a visible dot pattern filled with black paint to contrast the brushed metal. High-contrast photographs work best, and halftone photos are available up to 24 in × 24 in. Additional costs apply for complex line art and photo etching.
Photos on aluminum plaques: photo etching is not available in aluminum, so for aluminum plaques we etch the photo on a stainless steel insert and set it into the plaque.
We’ll confirm exact minimums during proofing based on your plaque size.
Custom shapes require a minimum gap of 0.063 in.
Etched plaques are for interior or exterior installation. We offer five surface mounting options plus freestanding stake and post systems.
Blind Stud MountDrilled and tapped — standard for 1/4 in and thicker. A welded stud boss is used on 1/8 in material.
Solid Wall MountMachine screws into masonry.
Hollow Wall MountMachine screws with toggle wings.
Wood MountWood screws.
Freestanding mounts require a minimum 1/4 in material thickness.
Includes a coated black stake and screws for assembly to the plaque. Up to two stakes are available for a single plaque. Minimum plaque height is 4 in. Maximum size is 12 in wide by 8 in high for one stake, or 20 in wide by 8 in high for two stakes. Machine screws through 5/16 in thick black stakes fasten into the back of the plaque.
Includes black coated aluminum brackets attached to the back of the plaque with machine screws. The square aluminum post bolts into the bracket at a 45° or 90° angle. Plaques over 24 in wide (or over 575 sq in) require two posts. A 1 in post uses a 4 in × 6 in bracket; a 1-1/2 in post uses a 5 in × 7 in bracket; a 2 in post uses a 6 in × 8 in bracket.
When using a Blind Mount or Solid Wall mount, apply construction adhesive (e.g., PL Premium Max) in the drilled holes and on the back of the plaque. Do not install in direct contact with stucco — use separating spacers.
Typical production time for etched and photo plaques is about 15 business days after payment and final proof approval. Allow a few extra days for proofing and any artwork revisions.
For ceremonies or unveilings, plan a 30–45 day total project window to ensure timely delivery.
Clean periodically with warm water and mild dish soap using a soft cloth, working in the direction of the grain. Rinse and dry immediately. Avoid abrasives, bleach, ammonia, and pressure washing.
Donor recognition, professional offices, hospitals, universities, museums, historic imagery, architectural drawings, detailed crests and seals, and wayfinding with small type.
Etched plaques can be made from bronze, brass, or stainless steel. Bronze and brass offer a classic appearance, while stainless steel provides a modern look and excellent corrosion resistance.
Yes. Photos can be reproduced using a halftone etching process that converts your image into fine dots, creating a realistic monochrome image etched directly into the metal surface. For aluminum plaques, the photo is etched on a stainless steel insert.
Etched plaques can reproduce very fine lines, small text, and intricate artwork that isn’t possible with cast plaques. The minimum text height is typically around 0.1875 in, depending on the font and layout.
Yes. When sealed with a protective topcoat, etched plaques in bronze, brass, or stainless steel are weather-resistant and ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.
Yes. Recessed areas can be paint-filled with contrasting colors. Spot color matching is available using Pantone, CMYK, or RGB values.
Etched plaques range from about 2 in × 2 in up to 36 in × 72 in, in 1/16 in, 1/8 in, and 1/4 in thicknesses. We’ll recommend the best option based on your design, size, and installation location.
Etched plaques can be installed using Blind Stud, Thru-hole, Double Face Tape, Solid Wall, Hollow Wall, or Wood mounts, plus freestanding stake and post systems. See our Mounting Options page for details.
Typical production time is about 15 business days after payment and proof approval. Allow a few additional days for proofing and shipping.
Clean periodically with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth. Avoid abrasives, bleach, or ammonia. Rinse and dry immediately to maintain the finish.
Provide vector artwork (AI, EPS, PDF, or SVG) for line designs, or high-resolution photos (300 dpi) for halftone images. We’ll review and prepare the files for etching during proofing.
Send your artwork and final size — we’ll confirm the details, suggest any tweaks, and send a free proof.
