Etching

A flat metal plate coated with an acid resistant wax ground melted on to the surface of the plate and left to harden. The design can then be scratched through the hardened coating, exposing the metal below. A bitumen based varnish ‘stop out varnish’ can be used to paint out the areas of the plate you do not wish the acid to affect. The plate is immersed into the acid which burns or etches only the exposed areas of the metal plate where the design has been drawn. The longer the plate remains in the acid, the deeper the lines are etched. The depth and density of the etched lines controls the tones of the print.

Dry Point 

A sharp pointed steel tool is used to inscribe directly into the surface of a plate, creating a ‘burr’ which is pushed up, like the furrow of a ploughed field. When the plate is inked and wiped, both the inscribed mark and the burr hold the ink, printing as a thick, velvety line.

Collagraph

Collagraph is a technique that involves creating a collaged plate which is then sealed and inked. It is then run though a press. Collagraphs can be printed either as relief prints (printing the surface of the plate) or intaglio prints (printing areas lower than the surface of the plate)

Lino Cut 

A Relief Print is made by cutting the image out of a flat surface, usually wood or linoleum. The remaining raised areas then form the relief block to which ink is applied by means of a roller, then a sheet of paper is pressed against the inked surface of the block, using either a printing press or hand burnishing. Only the raised part of the block deposits the inked image onto the paper.