intaglio

Intaglio means ink below the surface. Common intaglio plates are metal like copper, zinc or steel.  There are many processes for making marks, the most common using scribed opaque grounds to etch the surface of the plate.  After the surface of the plate has been etched, ground is removed and the plate is inked and wiped so the un-etched surfaces transfered to the paper remain white and the lines or patterns etched into the plate recieve the ink.  Often the paper is wetted to grab more of the ink and emboss the line into the paper.

Court print thumbnail
Seaplane Soapbite thumbnail
Court print

Court print

Three plate - hard ground at houses, soft ground at landscape lines, green and red aquatint at roofs and lawn

Seaplane Soapbite

Seaplane Soapbite

Usually printed with another hardground lined plate, this is one of several that will make unique prints with pencil and possibly watercolor