Quickstartguide:Etching
From Publication Station
Preparing the copper plate
The copper plate can be bought from the Metal Workshop tip: Instead of copper plate you can use any material that you can scratch on (for example juice cardboard box)
- Bevel the corners of the copper plate
- Polish the plate with Brasso and a cloth
- tip: pay special attention to the corners
- Degrease the plate with Ketjap Manis (Fermented Soja)
- spread the Ketjap on the plate and using the soft side of a sponge
- disclaimer: do not clean the sponge with water
- Wash the plate with water and dry it with a clean cloth and put it in the oven for 10 minutes to dry completely
- Cover the plate with a ground we use a thin layer of Pledge (mixed with ink to make the wax not transparent) and leave it to dry
Transferring your design
- Draw on top of the wax by scratching it lightly
disclaimer: everything you scratch on the plate will be mirrored after printing
- Attach a long stripe of clear tape to the back of the plate
- Put the plate in the Etching Bath
tip: use the long strip of clear tape to prevent your plate of sinking in the etching bath
- Rinse your plate with water and remove the tape
- Put the plate in a Dasty bath for 10 minutes
- Rinse the plate with water and let it dry completely
Printing
1.
