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Engraving
The printing plate is made of metals such as
copper, zinc, steel or iron, although copper is
preferred due to its compactness, toughness,
resistance and homogeneity. These properties
improve the quality of the engraving as the
incisions remain cleaner and the printing plate
is more resistant to the striking of longer
series. Zinc is softer and less resistant, and
therefore requires better control, especially
when a mordent is being applied. Steel and
copper are less commonly used, and only for a
limited range of effects –textured backgrounds,
quick and deep incisions etc.—and with
appropriate mordents . The metal printing plate,
whether copper or zinc, has a smooth surface and
a thickness of approximately 1 to 1.5 mm.
Metal engraving is based on incision or gouging
in metal. The image is gouged into the plate and
the design’s white areas are formed by the plate
surface itself. The ink penetrates the incised
recesses and mirrors the image onto paper.
A metal engraving print boosts some features
that are not seen in any other printing
technique, such as the relief of the lines on
paper; the pressure marks of the plate around
the printed composition, known as the plate mark
etc.; and the characteristic lines achieved
through the application of different techniques
such as etching, aquatint, drypoint, burin,
mezzotint etc..
Incision may be carried out directly, gouging in
the metal with a tool, or indirectly, biting the
metal with mordents. Both techniques can be
applied onto the same metal plate.
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