From Photograph to Glass: A Circuit Design on a Pint Glass

This commission began with a photograph.

A detailed image of an amplifier circuit board was sent as a reference for a Father’s Day piece. The brief was to retain the structure of the original circuit board while adapting it to the proportions of a tall pint glass.

Reference and Preparation

The source image contained a high level of detail. Fine traces, closely spaced components and overlapping structures that would not transfer directly to glass at this scale.

The artwork was simplified around the elements that gave the board its visual character. Components were reduced, line weights adjusted and unnecessary detail removed so the design remained recognisable at engraving scale.

The composition was prepared vertically to suit both the original circuit layout and the proportions of the pint glass.

A small personal inscription was incorporated beneath the design, grounding the technical subject within the context of a Father's Day gift.

Engraving

Once the Engraving Layout was approved, the artwork was prepared for stencil production and sandblasted onto the glass.

The controlled engraving depth kept the simplified linework clear while retaining the structure of the design.

Outcome

The finished piece carries the structure and visual language of the original circuit board, translated into a form that can be read clearly on glass.

What began as a densely detailed electronic component became a balanced engraved composition, retaining the character of the original while adapting it for an entirely different material.