CAUTION: Safety is very important when etching. Be sure to wear the appropriate protective clothing and observe all WARNINGS on chemical manufacturers .  

Electrolytic etching is another fairly common etching technique. It is similar to chemical etching in that acids and bases are used for modifying the pH, however the electrochemcial potential is controlled electrically by varying the voltage and current externally as opposed to chemically. Electrolytic etching is often used for harder to etch specimens that do not respond well to basic chemical etching techniques. Electrolytic techniques require that the specimen be conductive and is therefore limited primarily to metals.

The most common electrolytic etching equipment uses a two electrode design (anode and cathode) using acids or bases for the electrolyte. Procedures for this type of electrolytic etching are fairly common .