Hi, I'm planning on making my first etched PCB because protoboarding it would become quite a mess. So while informing myself how to do it, and I do understand that, I've come across two different method of etching (it seems). One uses the approach of etching away all the copper except for the circuitry, the other just etches away a small space between the circuitry and the unused copper.
I know that it doesn't really matter what approach one takes, but are there some advantages over the other? Am I not understanding something? Why two different ones?
If you don't mind waiting a couple of weeks, then it's much easier (and probably cheaper) to design the PCB using Eagle and get it professionally made by Itead or one of the other Chinese suppliers. You will get a much better PCB too, including solder resist, silk screen, and plated-through holes.