Printmaking Series (2 of 21) - Electro-etching for intaglio

By Nik Semenoff June 14, 2004

} Electro-etching for intaglio Printmaking Series - Part 2 of 21 By Nik Semenoff Electric current has been used for both depositing and removing metal. Plating is a common industrial procedure used on household and many other articles we use daily. By reversing the polarity of the metal on the power output, it can be etched without the use of acids, requiring only safe salts such as sodium chloride. To produce intaglio plates, one can use zinc, copper, aluminium, stainless steel and any metal one wishes to use. The voltages needed are under 5 volts for best results, while the amperage depends on the size of opened area on a plate. There is no chance of electrical shock from a well design power supply. Donna Redl One of the more interesting aspect of this method is the way the metal is removed. Unlike Electro Power Unit acids that attack in all directions, electrons tend to move in a direct line towards the opposite pole. This eliminates the undercutting that give problems in heavy textured areas with mordants. If one was to examine the shape of a line for its' profile, it would look more like a "V" than an "O". The action on the plate can be fast, depending on the power supply used, but slow delicate removal of metal produces the better image. It is not necessary to purchase expensive power supplies designed for electro-etching, as there are cheap surplus materials available that anyone with basic electronic knowledge, can assemble into a descent unit. I recommend this technique only for a studio where not many printers are etching many plates, since only one can be processed at one time. While great plates can be made with electro-etching, there are special needs that one must address. These are not difficult and the elimination of dangerous acids makes this a safer method to produce etching plates. Nik Semenoff ________________________________________________ Copyright © 2004 Nik Semenoff Nik Semenoff Artist-in-residence University of Saskatchewan Visit Nik Semenoff's website at duke.usask.ca/~semenoff/ for more information.

• Posted: 2004-06-14