Printmaking: Stopout
Stopout is a dark brown acid resistant liquid which is applied to the etching plate for reinforcing
the grounds on areas which is not to be etched, and is used to
cover up any unwanted exposed metal to prevent "foul bite".
It is often used to paint the areas you want to keep "as they" are and
is applied before biting to create the whites in the image (to
cover up areas you would like to remain white) if you choose to not use any hardground or
softground.
By painting more on every time the plate is etches, you create the different tones.
(Using aquatint resin on the plate will increase this etching process)
Stopout can also be used to refine lines or correct drawings before the image is etched.
It is normally applied with a painting brush, but any tool which can be cleaned with white spirit can be used for application.
A thin brush can be used for drawing images with the stopout liquid and
Whitespirit can be used for drawing and painting into the stopout.
Drying time vary depending on the room temperature, but normally it will take from half an hour to an hour if applied in thick layers.
Both grounds and Stopout can be washed away with whitespirit.
The Stopout liquid can be bought in most printmaking shops.
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