Booklet3

Dry point etching is a technique in which a sharp object, usually an etching needle or an engineers scribe, is used to scrape the surface of a plate. These plates are commonly made from plastic and create a very characteristic, soft and rich aesthetic when printed. Dry point is classed as an ‘Intaglio’ print-making.

Create your image using your preferred tools and plastic plate. A little tip of mine, if you are wanting to create tonal areas on your, try using sandpaper!

Get your printing paper soaking in a nice trough of water.

Select your oil paint, and scrape over your plate with a square card. Force it into all your marks moving in all different directions.

Using tissue and scrim, polish the revealed surface of the plate in circular motion until clean.

Make sure the ink is only within your etched lines, otherwise the excess will show when printed.

Once satisfied all the ink is removed from the surface, get it stuck in the Etching press with your blotted paper.

Leave your prints to dry on the drying rack.

Once you have completed all you have wished to for-fill, get that plate cleaned up!

Relief printing is a process in which a print is produced from the remaining raised surface or ‘relief’ of a flat object that has been cut into. The materials commonly used are pieces of lino, wood, cardboard, plaster blocks and of course, your good old tater printing! Different materials and different cutting devices create different outcomes, so it is best to experiment to see what is best for you. If you are cutting lino or wood, it is advised that you use a bench hook. Always make sure you are cutting away from yourself when using one otherwise you’ll end up having a nasty accident! Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Cut your image into your block. I’m going to use lino for mine. Careful of them bloody fingers while your at it!

Mix up ink you require and spread on glass surface the same way as you did for mono print.

Roll evenly onto your block. Make sure all of the exposed areas are covered.

Register your print using newsprint - mark size of printing paper and mark the size of the block so it is central.

Once you are happy, print onto your paper using either the hydraulic nipping press or columbian press.

Clean your blumin’ mess up!