Intaglio:

An image or tonal area is printed from lines or textures scratched or etched into a metal plate. The plate is inked, wiped, and run through a press with moistened paper, which is forced down into the inked recessions, thus transferring a reversed image. Types of intaglio include etching, engraving, drypoint, mezzotint, and aquatint. Traditional etching requires exposure to toxic chemicals and materials. The recent development of non-toxic chemical etchants by Friedhard Kiebeken has greatly increased the safety of intaglio.

Acrylic Aquatint Etching

Diluted Speedball Screen filler or Badger Acrylic Aquatint Solution for Printmakers is evenly airbrushed directly on a polished copper plate coated on the backside with packing tape. The plate is chemically etched briefly in Ferric Chloride or Edinburgh Etch. Areas reserved for the lightest tone are then painted with Golden’s Acrylic Stop-out Varnish or Speedball Screen Filler to stop further etching in those areas. The plate is re-submerged in the etchant. This process is repeated until a complete tonal image is developed.

Variations:
To immerse the plate only once, differentially mask tonal areas during the airbrushing with airbrush masking film. Stencil Aquatint Technique uses hand-cut paper stencils or objects during the airbrushing process. Liquid Resist Aquatint Stencils Techniques involve brushing water or other liquids on areas of the plate as a resist to screen filler and then drying these areas after airbrushing before immersion in the etchant.

• Jennifer Fallat, Light, 2004 – purchase price: $70 - Acrylic Resist Intaglio Etchings with Wax Resist, Destruction Ground, and Spray Aquatint
• Jennifer Fallat, Light II, 2004 – purchase price: $70 - Acrylic Resist Intaglio Etchings with Wax Resist, Destruction Ground, and Spray Aquatint
• Jennifer Fallat, Light IV, 2004 – purchase price: $70 - Acrylic Resist Intaglio Etchings with Wax Resist, Destruction Ground, and Spray Aquatint