Swansea Print Workshop

Etching Safely at Swansea Print Workshop

Etching has traditionally been associated with very hazardous processes using etchants that have necessitated very strong extraction for fumes, exposure to resin dust in the aquatint process.

We took the route pioneered by Edinburgh Printmakers in searching for a benign work environment.

We use cheap cooking oil to clean up oil based inks instead of turps substitute. this makes a big difference for the halth of people working in the environment for long periods.

Etching is an intaglio printmaking process in which lines or areas are incised using acid into a metal plate in order to hold the ink. In etching, the plate can be made of iron, copper, or zinc.

To prepare the plate for etching, it is first polished to remove all scratches and imperfections from the surface. When the surface is completely smooth, it is covered evenly with a layer of an acid-resistant varnish or wax, which is called the ground.

Using a blunt stylus called an etching needle, the printmaker gently scratches away parts of the ground following the design, thereby exposing the metal beneath.

Etching is an intaglio printmaking process in which lines or areas are incised using acid into a metal plate in order to hold the ink. In etching, the plate can be made of iron, copper, or zinc.

To prepare the plate for etching, it is first polished to remove all scratches and imperfections from the surface. When the surface is completely smooth, it is covered evenly with a layer of acid-resistant varnish or wax, which is called the ground.

Using a blunt stylus called an etching needle, the printmaker gently scratches away parts of the ground following the design, thereby exposing the metal beneath.

Once the entire design has been drawn into the ground, the back of the plate is covered in plastic and the plate is then lowered into the acid.

The acid eats into the metal only in the exposed areas creating recesses that can retain ink. The depth and width of these recesses is determined by the length of time the plate is exposed to the acid: a longer exposure will cause deeper and wider recesses, which hold more ink and will thus print darker lines on paper.

This process can be used to create a nuanced tonal palette. To create darker tones, certain areas can be bathed in acid several times, while lighter areas are protected from further acid bite by covering them with ground. Once the plate has been satisfactorily bitten by the acid, the printmaker removes the ground with a solvent.

After the ground is removed, the plate is ready for inking. In an intaglio process, the ink is retained in the incised lines. A cloth ball, cardboard tab, or equivalent material is used to gently spread ink across the whole face of the plate; the same material is used to remove most of the excess ink from the surface. The plate is further cleaned using a tarlatan rag (heavily starched cheesecloth).

As a last measure, printmakers often use the sides of their hand to wipe away the last bits of ink. In certain cases, a printmaker can choose not to clean the plate entirely, but to leave a thin layer of ink on the plate to create tone.

The main breakthrough came with Andrew Baldwins invention of BIG etching ground

What is safe etching?

• No hazardous fumes
• No exposure to dangerous acids or solvents
• Accessible processes for mark-making
• Consistent results
• Compatible with traditional effects (aquatint, sugar lift)
• Innovative advanced techniques

As a result of a grant by the Arts Council of Wales the Workshop has adopted an innovative etching ground developed by Andrew Baldwin of Trefeglwys Printmaking studio Wales.

BIG Safe Etching at SPW offers the printmaker a safer alternative in etching with the same level of creative opportunities as traditional materials without exposure to hazardous chemicals. For the beginner, BIG provides an accessible process for spontaneous and diverse mark-making. For the experienced printmaker, BIG provides a medium for consistent, excellent results.

OUR FACILITIES AND SERVICES

SPW has adopted BIG Safe Etching as its standard approach to etching. Our facilities offer access to a dedicated Safe Etching area, specialist equipment, materials and technical reference notes supported by trained Open Access Leaders for independent studio use. Regular training opportunities in Safe Etching are available through our workshop programme.

ABOUT BIG (Baldwins Ink Ground) and its creator

BIG (Baldwins Ink Ground) is a vegetable-based ground used as a safer alternative to traditional intaglio materials. It was created by Andrew Baldwin, a practicing printmaker with an ambition to reduce some of the more hazardous processes in printmaking. The ground has been embraced across the printmaking world and adopted by Edinburgh Printmakers, leaders in printmaking developments. Andrew Baldwin is based at Trefeglwys Printmakers in Mid-Wales. www.printmakingstudio.co.uk

The introductory workshop offers the opportunity to use both copper and aluminium plates. You will cover a traditional linear approach : this is done by drawing lines using an etching needle (on hard grounds). Additionally a full range of tonal and textural will be covered by the use of soft ground and aquatint.

You will learn about the safe etching area, tools and equipment, which grounds and paper to select for your image and how to add tone to your print. A full set of technical notes will be provided.