Etched glass

Overview

Etched glass on a drawing tablet means the glass has a slight texture. It is not completely smooth like normal glass. The amount of this etching varies depending on the exact process used to create it.

Physical properties

The etching is a very subtle texture created on the glass, usually through some kind of acid treatment that eats away a little of the surface.

Benefits

The texture gives two benefits. First, it helps the glass feel less slippery as you draw. That slippery feeling is a common complaint on devices like an iPad. Second, the texture disperses light coming from the room, which reduces glare. So the etching is often referred to as an anti-glare treatment.

Potential disadvantages

One negative aspect of etching is that it can create an effect called anti-glare sparkle. Sometimes the anti-glare sparkle is very subtle, but sometimes it is extremely strong and people do not like it. More here: Anti-glare sparkle.

Users may also see a little "softness" in the pixels, where the edges of pixels are not as crisp as you would normally expect. This is due to light from the display panel being diffused by the etching.