The Etching Process
The following photos will help you understand the mechanics of the etching process.
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| Copper Plate | Uncolored Etching | Watercolored Etching |
The Steps
| 1. Coating the plate with an acid resistant wax. |  |
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| 2. Drawing on the plate to expose the metal. |  |
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| 3. The acid bath. The acid reacts with the metal and lines are 'etched' into the plate. |  |
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| 4. The wax is removed and the plate is coated with ink. |  |
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| 5. Wiping the plate. |  |
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| 6. Rolling the plate through the flatbed press. |  |
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| 7. The etching is pulled from the plate. |  |
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| 8. The etching is painted, signed and numbered. |  |
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The plate will wear down with use, therefore the edition must be limited.
Ten percent of my editions are designated to AP's or Artist Proofs. These are the impressions used to ensure the quality of the numbered pieces.
Today's fine art printmaker can choose from several methods to produce an etching plate. Many artists are now using an alternative method to create an etching plate without the use of acids. The process of solar etching has evolved using an aluminum plate covered with a layer of photo emulsion. The plate is created by placing a transparency of the original drawing over the UV sensitive surface, exposing it to UV light, and then developing it in water. Once the plate is created, the steps of inking, wiping, hand-pulling and hand-coloring the etching are the same as in the traditional method described above. For more information on solar plates, visit their website at www.solarplate.com .
Melanie Fain ~ PO Box 187 ~ Boerne, TX ~ 78006 ~ 830-537-4364 ~ mel@melaniefain.com