A technique that uses a metal plate that is covered in an acid-resistant material, leaving only the areas that will be etched exposed. The plate is then etched in acid, and the design is transferred onto paper using a press.
Printmaking History: The history and evolution of printmaking, including the development of plate etching techniques.
Materials and Tools: The materials and tools needed for plate etching, including copper plates, etching needles, acid, rosin, and various printing papers.
Plate Preparation: The process of preparing the copper plate for etching, including cleaning and texturizing the surface.
Drawing Techniques: The various drawing techniques used in plate etching, such as drypoint, line etching, aquatint, and soft-ground etching.
Acid Etching: The process of using acid to etch the plate and create the design, including the types of acid used and safety precautions.
Printing Techniques: The various techniques used to print the design onto paper, such as hand-pressing and modern printing machines.
Ink and Color: The types of ink and color used in plate etching, including traditional inks and newer digital printing inks.
Editioning and Numbering: The process of creating limited editions of prints and numbering them for authenticity.
Conservation and Preservation: The methods used to conserve and preserve etched plates and prints, including storage and handling techniques.
Contemporary Plate Etching: The modern use of plate etching in contemporary art and design, including its versatility and potential for experimentation.
Intaglio Printmaking: This refers to any printmaking technique where an ink mark is made from a groove or a depression that is cut or etched into a printing plate.
Drypoint Etching: This is an intaglio technique where a sharp tool, such as a needle, is used to scratch an image into a metal or acrylic plate without the use of acid.
Engraving: Engraving is another type of intaglio printmaking where an artist uses a burin or metal tool with a sharpened point to incise lines into a printing plate.
Aquatint: This is an intaglio technique where an artist uses acid to etch large areas of tone onto a metal plate.
Soft-ground Etching: This is an intaglio process where an artist transfers a drawing onto a soft ground surface on a printing plate, and then makes a print from the plate before the ground has completely dried.
Mezzotint: This is an intaglio technique where an artist uses a tool called a rocker to create a rough surface on a metal printing plate which can then be burnished to create areas of light and dark.
Relief printing: This refers to any printmaking technique where the raised surface of a printing block or plate is inked and then printed onto a surface. Examples of relief printing techniques include woodcut, linocut, and wood engraving.
Photogravure: This is a type of photomechanical printmaking where a photographic negative is transferred to a printing plate which is then etched to create a printing surface.