Etching

	Etching & Aquatint process
	Etching An indirect Intaglio technique in which a piece of metal sheet (the plate) - usually copper or zinc - is covered with an acid resistant coating into which is drawn the image revealing the metal. When immersed in acid only these parts of the metal are eaten away. The longer the time in the acid, the deeper will be the line and the darker it will appear when printed because it holds more ink. Aquatint This is the term used to describe the process of adding tone (not colour) to a line etching. Instead of a surface of wax the metal plate is given a thin layer of resin dust which, when heated, adheres to the metal. The resin protects the metal from acid but allows the acid to attack the metal between the resin grains. This produces a fine network of "valleys" which hold ink. Varying the depth of the valleys will vary the amount of ink held and thus vary the tone value.

Debby Mason - Marine Life Etchings