Acid etching was usually done in two stages. Firstly the whole glass is etched to a matt finish. This is followed by a different type of acid-etch to bring back some areas to a clear finish.

Sand-blasting is done by pressure-spraying a fine abrasive onto the glass. Usually the pattern in the glass is made by masking off the clear areas with a protective film. Acid etching is rarely done these days for safety reasons but it does have a softer, more pleasing appearance than sand-blasting.