Hello! so as well as my main module of study at University, I had been given the opportunity to chose another from a wide selection from design and fine art modules. I decided to choose Print and Printability because I am very interested in printing and wish to learn more techniques and experience new printing process’. So far, I have been learning a technique that I have always liked but never had a chance to do so it has been really interesting so far.
The printing technique that I have been learning is known as Intaglio Printing, also known as, etching. For anyone who is unsure about etching, it is basically creating a design on a sheet of metal,wood etc and then putting the plate in acid so that the etching process can happen! Before the acid bath, the plate must be prepared beforehand and then placed on a hotplate so that you can apply the ground to work from. After the ground is on, you can then use an etching needle and draw away! After you have completed your design, you then place the plate in the acid bath and the acid will react and engrave the lines into the metal. However, to create different tones, you must have set times for your plate to be in the acid for example, if you want finer lines, you would only need it for a few minutes and if you want deeper, you simply leave it in for longer. Once you are happy with everything and you have you paper or material ready, it’s ready for the press and ready to be printed!
For more in depth info… Intaglio Printing only a Wikipedia link but they gave a good description!
So here is a print that I had created and started working on today!
The design I have based my Intaglio print is influenced by my summer project and a building that I seen whilst in London during the summer!
Plate design drawn into the carbon and ground.
First Intaglio print done!
Print on cream and white paper…testing different effects.
Well that was my first go and I am very pleased with the results! more soon!!
Laura Speirs 