🖨️Printmaking Unit 3 – Intaglio processes

What's Intaglio All About?

• Intaglio printmaking involves incising or etching a design into a metal plate (copper, zinc, steel)
• The incised lines or areas hold the ink while the surface is wiped clean
• Prints are made by pressing damp paper against the inked plate with a printing press
• Intaglio techniques include etching, engraving, drypoint, aquatint, and mezzotint
• Allows for a wide range of tonal values and intricate details
• Produces prints with a unique, tactile quality due to the plate's recessed areas
• Intaglio prints are often considered more "precious" due to the labor-intensive process

Tools and Materials You'll Need

• Metal plates (copper, zinc, or steel) for etching or engraving
• Etching needles, burins, and roulettes for creating lines and textures
• Acid (ferric chloride or nitric acid) for etching the plate
• Rosin, spray paint, or liquid hard ground for creating aquatint textures
• Inks (oil-based or water-soluble) for printing
• Tarlatan, newsprint, and cheesecloth for wiping the plate
• Blotters, newsprint, and felt blankets for the printing process
• A printing press (etching press) to transfer the ink from the plate to the paper

Setting Up Your Workspace

• Choose a well-ventilated area for applying grounds and etching
• Ensure proper lighting to see fine details while working on the plate
• Set up a flat, level surface for inking and wiping the plate
• Organize tools and materials for easy access during the process
• Prepare a space for the printing press with adequate room for maneuvering
• Have a water source nearby for cleaning plates, tools, and hands
• Use a separate area for handling and storing acids safely

Key Intaglio Techniques

• Etching: Using acid to create lines and tones on a metal plate coated with an acid-resistant ground
  • Hard ground etching: Drawing through a hard, waxy ground with an etching needle
  • Soft ground etching: Creating textured marks by pressing materials into a soft, tacky ground
• Engraving: Incising lines directly into the metal plate using a burin tool
• Drypoint: Drawing on the plate with a sharp needle, creating burrs that hold additional ink
• Aquatint: Creating tonal areas by applying a porous ground and exposing the plate to acid
  • Rosin aquatint: Dusting the plate with rosin powder before etching
  • Spray paint aquatint: Applying a fine mist of spray paint to the plate before etching
• Mezzotint: Roughening the plate surface with a rocker tool and smoothing areas for highlights

Creating Your Plate

• Prepare the metal plate by beveling edges and polishing the surface
• Apply the appropriate ground for the chosen technique (hard, soft, or aquatint)
• Create the design on the plate using etching needles, burins, or other tools
• Use stopping-out varnish to protect areas from further etching, if needed
• Submerge the plate in the acid bath for the desired time to etch the exposed areas
• Remove the ground and clean the plate for inking and printing

Inking and Wiping Basics

• Apply a thin layer of ink over the entire plate using a dauber or roller
• Use a piece of matboard to remove excess ink from the plate surface
• Wipe the plate with a tarlatan, using circular motions to remove ink from the surface
• Use a piece of newsprint to remove any remaining surface ink, revealing the design
• For highlights, gently wipe specific areas with a Q-tip or soft cloth
• Ink can be modified by adding easy wipe, magnesium carbonate, or other modifiers

The Printing Process

• Prepare the dampened paper by blotting it between newsprint or felt
• Position the inked plate on the press bed, with the paper carefully aligned on top
• Cover the plate and paper with a felt blanket to ensure even pressure during printing
• Run the plate and paper through the etching press using the appropriate pressure
• Carefully peel the paper from the plate to reveal the printed image
• Allow the print to dry flat or on a drying rack before handling or storing

Troubleshooting and Tips

• Keep plates clean and free of debris to avoid unwanted marks or scratches
• Regularly sharpen tools to maintain clean, precise lines and textures
• Experiment with different wiping techniques to achieve desired tonal effects
• Use test plates to determine etching times and acid strengths for consistent results
• Maintain consistent pressure and dampness of paper for even ink transfer
• Store plates carefully to prevent oxidation and damage
• Document your process, including etching times, ink modifiers, and paper choices
• Embrace the unique characteristics and imperfections inherent to the intaglio process