DSS-V.02.02 — Etch-Cream Patterning (Consumer Etchant Traces)

Etch-cream patterning is an appearance change created by consumer or contractor-grade etching creams/gels (commonly fluorides/acidic bases intended for glass/ceramics). Application by brush, dauber, sponge, or finger yields patchy white/milky micro-texture with tool-mark swirls, pooling at edges, and drip legs if over-applied. Presentations include filled rectangles, stenciled bands, hand-applied patches, or attempted “frost effect.”

Classification is appearance-only per VIS (method-agnostic). Inspect after Non-Invasive Reveal under VIS lighting/geometry; record surface numbering and worked-surface status.

• Opaque to semi-opaque white/milky fields; non-uniform density with brush/dauber arcs and cross-hatch where re-worked.
• Meniscus rims at stencil edges; pooled, brighter islands where cream collected; occasional vertical drips below the field.
• Stencil witness lines from vinyl/mask; finger smudges or glove prints in thin zones.

Surface-catch class (MSRT)

• SC-2 across worked micro-textured fields (distinct interruption).
• SC-1 in feathered halos/thin film; SC-0 outside the treated area.
• Perform one light, non-marring pass on a small revealed test patch (substrate). Use polymer stylus if a functional coating is suspected. MSRT supports classification only; do not abrade to “prove” relief.

Visual signature

• Modeled, non-directional micro-texture with application artifacts: brush arcs, dabs, swirls, pooling meniscus rims; whitened opacity proportional to dwell/re-application.
• No chip-flank sparkle (not scribed); no uniform granular blast field (not abrasive blast); no fused nodules (not hot particle).

Viewing / lighting

• Evaluate clean & dry at 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal incidence and oblique sweep (~60°-120°); use low-angle raking to emphasize swirls, rims, and density variation. Record distances/angles in-frame.

Location / access

• Record pane ID and surface numbering (#1-#4; laminate-internal). Typically on exposed faces (#1 or #4). Between-pane identification by parallax on #2/#3 → CAT-5 by location.

Mechanism cue (context)

• Craft/decor attempts, privacy “frosting”, ad-hoc graffiti removal gone wrong, or vandalism; masking materials (vinyl, tape) and residual adhesive may be nearby.

Assign CAT by visibility at acceptance geometry and MSRT after a reveal patch. Depth values are indicative-field measurement not required.

• CAT-2 (Light): Thin cream haze with SC-1-SC-2 intermittent, faint swirls, limited standard-view impact. Indicative relief: ~10-40 μm.
• CAT-3 (Moderate): Clearly legible etched panels/bands visible at standard distance; SC-2 consistent; swirl/meniscus artifacts evident. Indicative relief: ~40-120 μm.
• CAT-4 (Severe): Dense, re-worked fills with strong whitening, multiple passes, runs/pools; visible at standard and wide-field; SC-2 throughout. Indicative relief: ~120-300+ μm local maxima (chemistry/dwell dependent).
• Reclassify when: Sharp grooves with chip-flank sparkle → V.01.02 scribed; uniform mask-bounded granular frost → V.01.01 abrasive blast; white/grey ringed halos from water chemistry → Ch.03 mineral system.
• CAT-5 (by condition/location): Between-pane/inaccessible by parallax, integrity indicators, or confirmed functional-coating loss on the surface to be worked → CAT-5.

CAT is appearance-based; acceptance is separate under VIS-A at 12/36/72 in. Do not abrade to “force” a response during classification.

• vs. Acid-marker tagging (V.02.01): Markers form stroke geometry with run legs; creams form area fills/panels with brush/dauber swirls and meniscus pooling.
• vs. Abrasive blast (V.01.01): Blast is uniform within masks, granular to touch; creams are modeled/mottled, show swirls and variable opacity.
• vs. Mineral etch (Ch.03.03): Mineral etch follows wetting/drip geometry with crystalline rings; cream fields have application geometry and tool marks.
• vs. Factory acid-etched/frosted glass (P.04): Factory finishes are uniform and documented; field cream leaves swirl artifacts and edge pools; seek product docs.

• Photo set (VIS): 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal + oblique; raking macros highlighting swirls, meniscus rims, density variation; overview of full treated area. Record distance/angle in-frame.
• MSRT result (substrate): After a small reveal test patch, perform one light, non-marring pass within field and outside; record SC-class (SC-2 field, SC-1 feather, SC-0 control).
• Forms: Pane ID; product family & surface numbering; worked surface Y/N; functional coating present on worked surface? (Y/N/Unknown); reveal status; lighting/time; geometry checklist; photos attached.
• Acceptance split: Post-restoration acceptance per VIS-A §6; classification ≠ acceptance. Coated-face appearance rules apply per VIS §6.2.e when the worked surface is a factory functional coating.

• V.02.02 Etch-Cream Patterning - Milky etched panel with brush/dauber swirls and meniscus rims on surface #___; post-reveal test patch shows SC-2 in field / SC-1 in halo; visible at [12/36/72 in] under VIS geometry. Morphology: modeled chemical micro-texture, pooling islands, no chip-flank sparkle, not a uniform blast frost. Classification: CAT-[2/3/4] by visibility and SC-class; reclassify per notes if scribed/blast/mineral criteria dominate; CAT-5 if between-pane or coating-side loss on the surface to be worked. Forms + photo set attached; acceptance per VIS-A §6.