AQUATINT
(creates areas of solid tone)
1. Degrease the plate & allow to dry.
2. Place the plate onto a larger plate to allow careful placing inside, & removal from, the aquatint box.
3. Wearing PPE (a mask with appropriate dust filter, gloves, eye protection & protective apron or lab coat). CHECK THAT A PLATE HAS NOT BEEN LEFT INSIDE THE BOX. Rotate the handle at the side of the aquatint box vigorously (about 30 turns). Before doing this you can tap the sides of the box firmly to dislodge any resin sticking to the sides.
4. Make sure the handle is put back into the fixed position, this will ensure the shelf is in a horizontal position to safely support your plate. Open the box & place your plate carefully onto the shelf.
5. Leave the plate for at least 10 minutes, to allow the aquatint resin to settle on the surface.
6. Very carefully remove the plate, making sure not to disturb any of the dust.
7. Place the plate on the wire tray above the gas flame & very gently heat from below. You will see the aquatint turn a yellowy colour, be careful not to allow it to burn, and move flame evenly over the plate.
8. Allow the plate to cool. When it is cold you can apply stop out varnish to any areas you wish to remain white (ie have no tone).
9. Apply stop out varnish to the back of the plate.
10. Seek the advice of a member of staff regarding the strength of the acid, & the time to bite; preferably carry out a test strip.
11. Switch on the extraction in the fume cabinet. Wearing PPE , (a mask, eye protection, gloves & Apron or lab coat) place the plate gently into the acid. You cannot use a feather to agitate the acid with aquatint, as there is a danger you will disturb the resin on the surface of the plate. Instead gently agitate the tray. Remove from the acid after the required time & rinse with cold water.
12. Allow your plate to dry. You can now stop out areas of your plate you wish to be the lightest tone (grey), then repeat the process of biting the plate as before. This can be repeated several times to achieve a range of tone.
13. When you have the desired range of tone on your plate, clean off both the stop-out & the aquatint. Meths will remove the aquatint & straw hat varnish; white spirit will remove Rhinds varnish. Remember to remove stop-out from the back of the plate.
14. Print the plate in the usual way.
• Ammonia: wear mask & use fume cabinet
• Aquatint box: gloves, goggles, mask, protective clothing
• Acid: mask, eye protection gloves, overall
• Removing aquatint, grounds & stop-out (white spirit or meths): gloves
