Intaglio, or etching, is a form of printmaking where the ink is pushed below the surface of the matrix. Relief printing, on the other hand, the ink is laid on top of the martix- like in stamping.
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/
This method of etching is s highly hazardous to one’s health- The solvents, wax, acid, even oil-based ink will cause severe liver damage after prolonged use. By using an acrylic hard ground, copper plates and ferric acid, I have greatly reduced the toxicity of etching. Photopolymer, or Solarplates are completely non-toxic in most cases, and as such, are becoming more and more popular.
Instead of an acrylic resist, a light-sensitive film is applied to the surface of the plate, and transparencies, lace, string, leaves- anything- is placed on top. The plate is then exposed to UV light where the uncovered areas become hard, and the covered areas remain soft. The soft area is rinse away under water, creating grooves to hold ink. The plate is then inked and printed as normal. An example of photopolymer etching : http://mandylee.net/2009/06/lost-chilhood-severed-connections/ .
I hope that answeres some questions about etching. I’ll work on some how-to’s for making a plate, altering a print and more soon!
