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
Inking and Printing:
Now that the palte has been etched and cleaned, it's time to print. First the plate must be inked and wiped before you can run it through the press. Before inking, I wipe the plate using a bit of paper towel and a few drops of mineral spirits. Be sure to get any finger prints off!
Using the palette kinfe, I put ink a glass plate, add a few drops of mineral spirits, then work the ink to a smooth consistency.
Before actually inking the plate, I soak my paper. I get into a routine where everytime before inking the plate I start a new piece of paper soaking.
With latex gloves on, I use a cork to push the ink into the lines on the plate.
I really like to be sure I get the entire plate inked so I apply the ink very liberally making sure I have worked every part of the plate.
After inking, I use a piece of tarlatan to make do the intial wiping. I don't press too hard as I don't want to take any ink out of the lines.
After getting most of the ink wiped away, I use some phone book paper for the final wipe. I keep the paper flat when wiping using an open hand, I only want to clean the flat surfaces. Clean the back of the plate too. A final touch up to get those couple spots I may have missed.
Remove the gloves and carefully bring the inked plate and set it on the press bed. Being careful not to get ink on the paper, I remove it from the water tray and put it in a stack of clean blotter paper used for drying.
Put the paper on the plate, overlay your felts and blanket...crank the handle...and voila! repeat as desired!
Now if you haven't done so already...check out my prints already! Print Gallery: Etchings