OUGD406 Studio Brief 04 Research into Production Methods

Because I already know about screen print, mono print, letter press and book binding I don't need to do any research into those production methods. However, lino, intaglio and etching are processes I am unfamiliar with so it is prudent to understand them before I write about them and list them by difficulty. The video below really nicely outlines the lino cut process.






Etching is the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio in the metal (the original process—in modern manufacturing other chemicals may be used on other types of material). As an intaglio method of printmaking, it is, along with engraving, the most important technique for old master prints, and remains in wide use today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etching

Intaglio is the family of printing and printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink.^[1] It is the direct opposite of a relief print.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intaglio_(printmaking)

Aquatint is an intaglio printmaking technique, a variant of etching.

In intaglio printmaking, the artist makes marks on the matrix (in the case of aquatint, a copper or zinc plate) that are capable of holding ink. The inked plate is passed through a printing press together with a sheet of paper, resulting in a transfer of the ink to the paper. This can be repeated a number of times, depending on the particular technique.

Like etching, aquatint uses the application of acid to make the marks in the metal plate. Where the engraving technique uses a needle to make lines that print in black (or whatever color ink is used), aquatint uses powdered rosin to create a tonal effect. The rosin is acid resistant and typically adhered to the plate by controlled heating. The tonal variation is controlled by the level of acid exposure over large areas, and thus the image is shaped by large sections at a time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquatint