I learned mostly by osmosis. I am a huge fan of Instructables.com, I have bought a bunch of jewelry books including “Jewelry Lab,” by Melissa Manley. I experimented with different transfer papers including PNP and PCB Toner Transfer Paper (used for computer boards). I found PCB to work better than PNP (for me), as I couldn’t get a clean image with PNP, but with PCB, if you drop it in the water after heat setting it and leave it alone, the paper comes off by itself leaving a clean image. I also tried Sheri Haab”s E3 etch, but again, didn’t have much success.
I had trouble finding a good heat source (my iron didn’t work), and ended up buying an electric grill with temperature settings. Apparently temperature is very important. Ultimately I took at class at Silvera Jewelry School here in Berkeley, CA (high recommended!), and learned a bunch of techniques.
I use Ferric Chloride, but am thinking of looking into other forms of etching that are less toxic. I do have a place to get rid of it here in the Bay Area, but don’t really like creating a toxic mess!!! I still feel like I’m a beginner and I’m learning at every step and with every success and failure.
Definitely look at instructables.com as they are packed with incredible info about everything. The membership is totally worth it.

I wonder if you could tell me how you learned to etch — a course, Youtube, or what? Etching is just one of many skills I need to learn, but time and resources are limited. However, I have a special need for etching sooner rather than later. Do you, or does anyone else, have any advice about how to learn the rudiments of this skill fairly quickly? I will be reproducing an ink and brush calligraphy symbol painted by someone else. My metalworking skills are almost nonexistent – I havent even done that much wirewrapping.