Printmaking - Aquatint
Aquatint is a process that enables the artist to create a graduation of tone from
white to black. This technique is used by artists who desire more tonal variations in their print.
The process involve a thin layer of powered resin particles which is
dusted onto the surface of an intaglio plate.
The plate is then heated, which makes the dust melt and
become acid resistant.
When the plate is placed in the
acid bath, the acid etches the areas surrounding the dust particles and various tones are created depending of the length of bite.
Applying Aquatint to the plate :
Starting with a clean and de-geased plate, you would first lay an even coat of resin on top of the plate
by either using an aquatint machine, or by using a spray-can if a more textured pattern is required.
A burner (blue flame) is then used to create heat from underneath the plate, allowing the
resing coat to melt onto the surface of the plate.
The plate is then ready for the desired image to be applied.
Designing the plate:
One aquatint technique is to cover the the areas you want to stay white (not etched) with a
stopout varnish. The stopout can be painted on with a brush or sponge.
The metal plate is then put in the acid bath for a short while, time depending on
how much gradiation of tone you want. This could be for as little as one minute.
The plate is then washed in water before more stopout is applied over the next area (for the second
tone), and the plate is put back in the acid bath for another minute.
The process is then repeated for as
many tonal layers as required.
By painting on more stopout every time the plate is etched, you create the different tones.
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