Liquid compositions for etching glass are disclosed herein. The liquid composition may include a non-active etching agent precursor that is inactive with respect to chemically etching glass in an amount of at least 2.5% by weight of the total composition, a binder and a liquid vehicle. The precursor may include an alkali metal salt having an activation temperature of at least 400° C. and when heated to above the activation temperature, the precursor yields an active etching agent suitable for chemical etching of glass.