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Etching
In this
technique the plate is covered with an acid resistant ground,
then worked with an etching needle to create an image. The thus
exposed metal is then "eaten" in an acid bath or etchant,
creating depressed lines that are inked and printed. The etched
line does not have the smooth, crisp quality of the engraved
line. It is usually sharply defined, but slightly irregular due
to the action of the etchant biting into the metal plate. Etching
was developed during the 16th century, and started to replace
engraving by the 17th century.
Aquatint
This
effect of this method produces solid areas of tone. The plate has
to be covered at one point with very fine particles
(traditionally rosin, at New Grounds hardground is airbrushed
onto the plate) so that the almost invisible openings between
those particles can be etched. To the naked eye those tiny etched
dots will appear as a gray tone. Shades of gray are achieved by
altering the length of the etch, the longer the etch, the darker
the tone will appear.
Softground
This
method employs a ground which remains pliable for a period of
time. Objects and textured materials can be pressed into the
surface with high pressure. They will lift off the ground and
expose the metal which then is etched just like a line drawing in
etching. In another softground technique, also called the
crayon or pencil manner, a piece of paper is placed
over the ground and the artist then draws on the paper with a
soft pencil. The pressure of the pencil strokes will cause the
ground to stick to the paper thereby exposing the metal in those
areas ready to be etched. Compared to the hardground drawing,
this techniques produces a very soft line; however, the artist
has to be able to complete the drawing within the limited amount
of time that the ground remains soft.
Drypoint
In this
techniques a needle is used to scratch directly in the metal
plate creating a burr that yields a characteristically soft and
velvety line in the final print. Since the burr wears down
relatively fast, it will hold only for a limited number of
impressions and therefore should be applied in the final working
state of a plate.
Engraving
The
image is produced by cutting a metal plate directly with a sharp,
square or lozenge shaped engraving tool called a burin or
graver. The engraved line is characterized by a sharp and
flowing line - thinner where the burin cuts less of the metal,
swelling to heavier and wider lines where the tool is pushed
deeper into the metal. Tonalities are achieved by hatching,
cross-hatching and stippling. The incised lines are inked and
printed with heavy pressure. Engravings have been produced since
the 14th century. It lost popularity with the development of
etching, and today the process is almost entirely limited to
the printing of currency and stamps.
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