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, sent as a reference for a Father’s Day piece. The brief was to retain as much of the original structure as possible, while adapting it to sit cleanly on 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.
Rather than reproducing the circuit board exactly, the objective was to identify which elements gave the board its visual character and preserve those within the engraving. Components were simplified, line weights adjusted and unnecessary detail removed, allowing the design to remain recognisable while becoming suitable for sandblasting.
The artwork was prepared in portrait orientation, reflecting the proportions of both the original circuit board and the glass itself. This allowed the composition to retain the vertical flow of the reference while making use of the full engraving area available.
A small personal inscription was incorporated beneath the design, grounding the technical subject within the context of a Father's Day gift.
Engraving
Once approved, the design was prepared for sandblasting.
The artwork was transferred to stencil and applied to the glass. The engraving was carried out using a controlled stream of abrasive, cutting the design into the surface to create a clean etched finish with visible depth.
This approach allows complex linework to remain legible while becoming part of the material itself.
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.
Some commissions begin with a clear idea. Others begin with a reference and a question of how it might translate.
This was the latter.
