[...] There are dozens of different methods to make an intaglio print. Here is the basic way I do it: I apply a thin layer of acrylic hard ground to a copper plate, then carve a line drawing into the ground, which exposes the copper. The plate is then placed into a vat of acid. The acid will eat away the exposed metal, creating deep grooves in the plate. After the acrylic hardground is removed, ink is wiped into the grooves and the part not exposed is wiped as clean as possible, because these sections are the “white” part of the print. Dampened paper is laid on top of the plate, and the whole thing is run through the press at a tight setting where the paper is pushed into the grooves on the plate, picking up all the ink. An example of a traditional etching : http://mandylee.net/2009/06/self-portrait-story-of-an-afro/ [...]
[...] There are dozens of different methods to make an intaglio print. Here is the basic way I do it: I apply a thin layer of acrylic hard ground to a copper plate, then carve a line drawing into the ground, which exposes the copper. The plate is then placed into a vat of acid. The acid will eat away the exposed metal, creating deep grooves in the plate. After the acrylic hardground is removed, ink is wiped into the grooves and the part not exposed is wiped as clean as possible, because these sections are the “white” part of the print. Dampened paper is laid on top of the plate, and the whole thing is run through the press at a tight setting where the paper is pushed into the grooves on the plate, picking up all the ink. An example of a traditional etching : http://mandylee.net/2009/06/self-portrait-story-of-an-afro/ [...]