Origin
Etching in antiquity
Etching was already used in antiquity for decorative purposes. Etched carnelian beads are … See more

A waxy acid-resist, known as a ground, is applied to a metal plate, most often copper or zinc but steel plate is another medium with different qualities. There are two common types of … See more

Copper is a traditional metal, and is still preferred, for etching, as it bites evenly, holds texture well, and does not distort the color of the ink when … See more

There are many ways for the printmaker to control the acid's effects.
Hard grounds
Most typically, the … See more

Aquatint uses acid-resistant resin to achieve tonal effects.
Soft-ground etching uses a special softer ground. The artist places a piece of paper (or cloth etc. in modern uses) over the ground and draws on it. The print resembles a … See more

Etching is also used in the manufacturing of printed circuit boards and semiconductor devices, and in the preparation of … See more

Printing the plate is done by covering the surface with printing ink, then rubbing the ink off the surface with tarlatan cloth or newsprint, leaving ink in the roughened areas and lines. Damp paper is placed on the plate, and both are run through a printing press See more