![]() Innovations like the Edinburgh Etch are part of a growing concern for the environment among contemporary printmakers. The process of etching with ferric is very slow, but since the end of the 1990s, it has been perfected – the Edinburgh Etch, consisting of four parts ferric chloride solution and one part citric acid solution, works well on all types of metal plates and at greater speed. Ferric chloride is a type of mordant based on corrosive salt crystals, and it has long been valued by printmakers for its safety and accuracy. Most of these acids are very aggressive and give off toxic fumes, with the exception of ferric chloride. Depending on the type of metal (as with engraving, copper plates and zinc are most widespread), different acids are used, most commonly diluted nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, and iron chloride. It is a chemical process, in which the matrix is created by submerging a metal plate into an acid or mordant. Because the process of ‘drawing’ on the copper and zinc plates is much more precise than cutting into woodblocks, intaglio techniques are perfect for multiplying the finer qualities of ink and pencil drawings, cross-hatched surfaces, and the subtle nuances of aquarelle and ink wash (in the case of aquatint).Įtching is the most popular and most useful technique in printmaking, because it allows a lot of freedom for artistic expression. The deeper the incision or recess is, the darker the printed image. Ink is applied so that it fills the indentations, and excess ink is removed from the plate/matrix. The complete opposite of the much older process of relief printing ( woodblock printing was perfected in Ancient China during the Tang dynasty, 618-906AD), intaglio is based on creating incisions or indentations on metal plates – most commonly steel, zinc or copper, either by physical scratching or through chemical processes. Read on to learn about each printing process.Much like how the invention of the Gutenberg printing press helped democratise the written word and brought books to people’s houses, intaglio enabled the spreading of beautiful illuminated pages and intricate drawings across Europe. ![]() Each one produces a distinct look and feel, and many artists will combine two or more techniques to produce one-of-a-kind prints. There are five traditional intaglio processes: engraving, etching, drypoint, aquatint, and mezzotint. After the bed arrives at the other end of the press, the blankets and paper are removed to reveal the finished print. ![]() The bed is then cranked between the two rollers, which forces the paper into the recessed areas of the metal plate. A dampened sheet of paper is laid on top of the plate, and two felt blankets are placed on top of the paper. Once inked, the plate is then positioned onto the bed of an etching press, which is a machine with two steel rollers that provide pressure. Once the plate is inked using a roller, its surface is wiped clean and only the pigment in the recessed areas is left. Originating from Italy, intaglio is the collective term for printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into the surface of metal plates (most commonly made of copper, zinc, or brass). A post shared by Kraisak Chirachaisakul on at 9:46pm PDT
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