Researchers: Audrey Blood and Jenny Gover, 2014

Aquatint is a method of creating tonal value in intaglio printmaking. An acrylic ground is applied in a fine particulate spray onto a degreased plate and then hardened. The acrylic spray acts as a resist, allowing an etching mordant to bite around the particles of ground that have adhered to the surface of the plate, creating a smooth, even tone.

Our task was to create a formula to replace the acrylic spray aquatint mixture (Z*Acryl), which was no longer in production. We began by researching several different formulas and assessing them for quality and durability. We were able to refine existing formulas to create a reliable spray aquatint.