Our Wikipedia, glass processing technologies

This is a surface marking method, similar to laser surface engraving, which involves removing material from the surface of the figurine and matting it. The material in the sandblasted area is recessed, the size of which depends on the length and intensity of sandblasting in that area. The surface has a matte texture that is clearly felt by touch.

Sandblasting is one of the more universal methods, but it is practically used mostly on glass. Sandblasting on glass offers huge possibilities for its processing by allowing for carving into the glass.

A common example of sandblasted surfaces are matte glasses or mugs with company logos. Sandblasting gives a lot of freedom in creating glass figurines, especially in combination with other methods of glass personalization. 

By holding the sandblasting nozzle in one place for a longer period of time, we can control the depth of sandblasting and thus achieve a pseudo-3D effect that works best when sandblasting the figurines from the back. This way, when viewed from the front, we can see letters or logos almost carved into the glass.

Once the element is prepared in this way, it is ready for further use. Sandblasting itself already creates an interesting visual effect, but we can also add colorful markings on top of the sandblasting. We can do this in two ways:

a) Using UV printing
In this case, in addition to sandblasting, we can fill the sandblasted area with any color or gradient, which is not possible when filling it with paint. We subject the sandblasted surface to UV printing. Printing on a matte surface makes it much more durable than printing on a flat, polished glass surface, while also enhancing the surface and giving it a unique look and aesthetic.

b) Filled with paint
A place that has been sandblasted and filled with paint is characterized by very high mechanical and chemical durability. It is not susceptible to moisture, and its biggest advantage is the possibility of using metallic paints. The effect obtained in this process, unlike UV printing, gives a metallic sheen primarily in several basic colors such as gold, bronze or silver.

It can be used, for example, in marking figurines where we want to differentiate the winner of the 1st place with the color gold, the 2nd place with the color silver, and the 3rd place with the color bronze.

Filling or painting glass surfaces with paint offers great possibilities for the final appearance of a figurine. It is also one of the most important techniques for refining the surface of figurines to make them look very exclusive and prestigious. Implementations that also use CO2 laser engraving as a final step, which applies graphic motifs to the surface of the paint, look particularly phenomenal.

Deep sandblasting
Deep sandblasting is achieved through the standard sandblasting process. However, it is done for a significantly longer time. The sandblasting time determines the depth of the indentation. To achieve an interesting spatial effect, sandblasting must be performed at a depth of at least several millimeters. Deep sandblasting looks best when viewed from the other side of the glass (so the sandblasting must be done in mirror reflection on the back surface of the glass). The viewer of the figurine has the impression of placing a spatial object inside the glass. Deep sandblasting can also be used for artistic sculpting in glass.

Finishing glass and edges
Sandblasting is also useful for glass processing without giving specific patterns. The two basic uses of the sandblaster's advantages are finishing edges and glass frosting.

Finishing edges is useful when the edge is sharp or uneven after cutting. In the final product, we do not need polished edges, but a frosted finish is sufficient or even desirable. The glass for such processing must be protected on the entire surface except for the edges. Sandblasting then only reaches the surface of the glass edge.

Frosting glass is nothing more than sandblasting the entire surface of a glass element or figurine. In this way, so-called Frosted Glass is created in a white-gray color.

The technology used for smoothing and dulling the edges of glass, applied immediately after cutting. The edge obtained is smooth and aesthetic, but still frosted. It can be a decorative element of the figurine itself. It is also a transitional stage between cutting and polishing (if polishing is to be done).

The final stage of finishing the edges is polishing. It involves processing the edge surface to achieve perfect smoothness, and giving the surface a glossy effect. In the case of glass, such an edge also becomes transparent.

The technology of polishing itself is similar to grinding, with the difference that instead of abrasive grinding discs, polishing discs are used, usually made of soft materials such as foam and other similar materials.