Electro Etching

Learn all about this effective, environmentally-friendly method of intaglio plate-making.

This course covers the basic principles of the electro-etching process and shows how it differs from traditional etching. 

You'll begin by preparing a copper plate with a copper contact strip to conduct the electrical current through the plate. The voltage used to etch the lines into the plate is extremely low at 0.5V, which is around a third of the voltage of a standard AA battery. The plate will be covered with either a graphite ink ground or hard ground of your choice on which to create a drawing. You will be shown how to set up and use the electro-etching tank, including the settings for the power supply and safety procedures when using the tank. 

Over the two-day course you will create both a copper plate and a zinc plate for printing, exploring methods specific to the fascinating properties of electro-etching. There will also be the opportunity to make a deeply etched zinc plate using a variety of resists. The plate can then be printed with or without ink to create an embossed image with a range of interesting textures and tonal effects.