Etching Tutorial: a Step by Step Guide to the Etching Process:
Tools and Materials> Preparing a Plate> Applying the Ground> Transfer Art> Working Plate> Etching> Inking and Printing
Transferring Art:
You can skip this part if your one of them high felutin', no lines, no guides, no authority, free thinkin, free spirited folks, who don't like to mess with lines and would never draw from a photo yet alone look at one! I respect that.
I always make a drawing first then transfer the drawing to the surface of the hard ground covered plate. Using the computer I make a mirror image of the drawing before transfering it to the plate. If you don't work with a mirror image of your drawing, the print will be a mirror image. It is better to have the final print come out like you intended in the original drawing or else the print might look off.
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1. The inspiration: A photo of an old mining cart I took at Bodie, California - a state park. 2. The cart, drawn without using the computer, the old fashion way, by hand with pencil. 3. Now for the new fashion way, I scan the drawing into Photoshop. I make a mirror image and adjust the contrast to get the lines to stick out more. Then I print it. 4. I turn the printed image over and cover the back of the image area with pencil lead. A woodless pencil works well. I then line up the image to the plate, image side up. Then you trace the image (#3), the paper now touching the plate, with a firm penicl, not too soft...pens are too hard. If you press too hard or use a pen, you may find the ground sticking to the paper and being pulled off the plate. Not cool. 5. You should see the image - pencil lines - on the surface of the ground covered plate. Now it's time to do the serious work, with the etching needle. |
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