Pressure + Ink: Intaglio Process

Summary

This video explores the intaglio printmaking process, highlighting techniques like drypoint and etching. Drypoint involves directly scratching a plate to create burrs that hold ink, producing distinctive fuzzy lines, while etching uses acid to eat away exposed copper areas to form the image. The tutorial details plate preparation, applying and removing ground, and step-by-step etching to achieve precise lines. Printing is demonstrated through inking, wiping, and pressing with damp paper, producing prints with sculptural texture and raised ink. The video emphasizes the artistic appeal of intaglio, showcasing its ability to create rich tonal variation, depth, and tactile, embossed effects.

Takeaways

• 😀 Intaglio processes involve printmaking techniques where the image area is below the surface of the plate.
• 😀 Drypoint is a type of intaglio process where metal is moved, not removed, creating a burr that holds ink for printing.
• 😀 The raised burr in drypoint creates a fuzzy line, which is a characteristic feature of this technique.
• 😀 A roulette tool, which creates offset dots, is used to add texture and tone to the composition, preventing a flat look.
• 😀 Steel facing strengthens the plate surface and helps prevent the delicate burrs from breaking during printing.
• 😀 Etching involves applying a ground to protect the non-image areas, followed by scratching the ground to expose copper for etching.
• 😀 The ground used in etching is made from asphaltum, wax, and rosin, which acts as an acid resist.
• 😀 Once the plate is prepared and the ground is smoked to make it visible, the artist scratches away the ground to reveal the copper beneath.
• 😀 Etching involves immersing the plate in an acid bath to eat away exposed copper, creating ink-holding recesses.
• 😀 After etching, the plate is cleaned, inked, wiped, and pressed onto dampened paper to create the final print with sculptural elements like raised ink and embossed edges.

Q & A

What are intaglio processes in printmaking?

Intaglio processes are printmaking techniques where the image area is below the flat surface of the printing matrix or plate. These processes involve etching or scratching the plate to create areas that can hold ink for printing.

How is drypoint different from other intaglio methods?

In drypoint, instead of removing metal, the artist scratches the surface of the plate, causing the metal to shift and create a raised burr. This burr holds ink, creating a characteristic fuzzy line when printed.

What is the role of the roulette in intaglio printmaking?

The roulette is used to add tone and texture to the plate by creating offset dots. It helps in diversifying the marks on the plate to prevent the composition from appearing flat.

Why is steel facing used in intaglio processes?

Steel facing strengthens the surface of the plate, which is important for delicate processes like drypoint, where the raised burrs need to be durable enough to withstand printing without breaking.

What is the basic process of etching a plate?

Etching involves several steps: preparing the plate by polishing and cleaning it, applying a ground (an acid resist), scratching the ground to reveal copper, and then using acid to etch the plate. This creates recessed lines that hold ink for printing.

What materials are typically used in etching ground?

Etching ground is commonly made from asphaltum, wax, and rosin. It acts as a resist, protecting the non-image areas of the plate from being etched.

How does the smoking process help in preparing an etching plate?

Smoking the plate involves holding it upside down over a heat source, allowing the soot to coat the surface. This helps the ground absorb the soot, making it dark enough to see the copper showing through when scratched.

What happens after the plate is etched in an etching process?

Once the plate is etched, the ground is removed, and the plate is cleaned. It is then prepared for printing, where ink is applied to the recesses and wiped off the raised surface, readying the plate for transfer onto paper.

How does the printing process in intaglio work?

The plate is inked and wiped to ensure that ink remains only in the recessed lines. A dampened sheet of paper is placed on top of the plate, and the plate is run through a press with high pressure to transfer the image onto the paper.

What is the appeal of intaglio processes for artists?

Intaglio processes are favored for their sculptural nature, where the artist manipulates a metal surface. This process results in prints with raised ink and embossed edges, offering a tactile and textured final product.