Etching
Intaglio is a generic term for a process which uses a metal plate either copper or steel and includes the techniques of etching, engraving, dry point, stipple, etching, mezzotint, hard, soft, lift, ground, etching and line etching, aquatint, sugar lift, pochoir, photo-processes and many others. The image is created on the plate either by a sharp implement or by the 'biting' of the plate by immersion in acid. The image areas are those depressed 'etched' below the surface of the metal plate. To print the plate is 'inked up', the surface wiped clean and dampened heavyweight paper place over the inked plate, several layers of blanket placed over it and run through a roller press. The dampened paper forced into these depressions picks up the image. This process is all done by hand. Although an artist may run an edition of prints, each version is inked up by hand and will differ from each other.
