Zea Mays Printmaking/Introduction to Drypoint

Introduction to Drypoint

Drypoint is an engraving method whereby an image is incised directly into a printing plate with sharp tools. No chemicals needed to create beautiful intaglio prints that can range from precise and delicate, to bold and graphic. This tutorial will take you through the entire process of creating and printing drypoints from both copper and plastic plates. You’ll learn how to prepare the plates, use and care for your tools, ink and print both on and off of an etching press.

Contents

Meet Your Instructor

Louise Kohrman-Martindell

Introduction

  • History of the medium
  • Examples of historic and contemporary drypoint 
Introduction

Materials

Everything you’ll need to make a drypoint print from a plastic or metal plate
Materials

Plate Preparation

  • Beveling and polishing metal plates
  • Cutting and preparing plastic plates
Plate Preparation

Drypoint on a Metal Plate

  • Transferring an image onto a plate
  • Drypoint drawing techniques with different tools
Drypoint on a Metal Plate

Tool Care

Tool Care

Drypoint on a Plastic Plate

Drypoint on a Plastic Plate

Paper Preparation

  • Selecting Rag and non-rag papers for printing drypoint
  • Paper tearing
  • Preparing a damp pack
Paper Preparation

Inking and Printing Drypoint on Plastic

  • Wiping techniques
  • Registration
  • Printing by hand with a variety of tools
Inking and Printing Drypoint on Plastic

Inking and Printing Drypoint on Metal

  • Mixing ink
  • Preparing wiping fabric
  • Tarlatan wiping
  • Palm wiping
  • Paper wiping
  • Printing on an etching press with rag and non-rag papers
Inking and Printing Drypoint on Metal

Clean-Up

  • Safe cleaning practices
  • Plate storage
Clean-Up

Conclusions

Conclusions

Instructions and Resources

Instructions
Materials List
Drypoint Burr Diagram
Drypoint Plate Tool, Line and Texture Diagram
Registration Template

Visual Inspiration

Artist Images.pptx
Artist Images (Mac Friendly).key