Hard and Soft Ground SEARCH THE SITE
left of photo: brushing on an acrylic hard ground
right: an etched zinc plate and its print
There are currently two innovative acrylic hard grounds on the market: Z*ACRYL Hard Ground Solution and LASCAUX Hard Resist. The suppliers' websites provide detailed specifications and usage instructions. Both products are fully nontoxic and deliver professional results on all metals. These commercial products are now recommended as a replacement for traditional tar-based products as well as acrylic floor varnish solutions, some of which may not meet nontoxic standards.
Before applying an acrylic hard ground, plates should be finely abraded with sandpaper, either by hand or using an electric sander. The fine tooth on the plate then allows the acrylic to bond with the surface without chipping. Note: highly polished plates are prone to chipping with acrylics. Keith Howard recommends using a kind of flow coating approach where the emulsion is poured rather than brushed onto the plate. A good ground may also be laid by brushing on a thin coating with a flat-headed sponge brush, or by airbrushing.
TIP: ACRYLIC HARD GROUND + KOH-NOOR 3080-4 BLACK INK = BLACK HARD GROUND
Cross hatching and loops drawn into an acrylic hard ground on copper, etched in Edinburgh Etch, and printed using Charbonnel etching ink.
Acrylic hard grounds give crisp line reproduction and, unlike traditional grounds, are not prone to foul-biting or pitting. The tough acrylic surface can also act as the actual printing surface, allowing a white plate tone to be printed with ease.
The Lascaux hard resist can also be used on a previously etched plate for re-etching. For best results always start by de-greasing and slightly roughening the plate surface - this helps the acrylic bond with the metal and actually aids the etching process. Previously etched copper plates require treatment with a salt and vinegar de-oxidizing solution. For fine detail to etch faithfully, apply the ground thinly and then dry the plate in warm air. Once dry, use a sharp etching needle or other "improvised" implements (a chipboard screw with tape wrapped around the shank makes a good tool) for drawing into the ground.
Safe Stripping with Orange Zest Solvents
An acrylic hard ground can be stripped off in a strong soda ash solution (1 part crystals to 3 parts warm water), or use one of the excellent citrus-based safe solvents now on the market (such as D*Solve by Z*Acryl) which remove acrylics with great ease.
"This truly revolutionary solvent was formulated as an alternative to petroleum-based turpentines and thinners. It is made from 100% renewable agricultural resources of soy, corn, and citrus, and is non-polluting, non-carcinogenic, and bio-degradable. Less than a teaspoon will thoroughly clean a large plate. DSolve will even strip dried ink from etched lines." Dick Blick
Image: Z*Acryl Product D*Solve
The Orono Soft Ground
The Orono soft ground is a resist development by Friedhard Kiekeben in collaboration with Prof SUSAN GROCE at the University of Maine, Orono, USA in 1997.
It consists of two main components. The first of these is the soft ground binder mix, which is made up from four ingredients (see method below), and can then be stored in sealed containers. The second component is Graphic Chemical waterbased block printing ink, such as Peacock Blue, which ensures good rollability.
(Howard/Cross)
The Orono ground was developed as a more versatile alternative to Keith Howard's original soft ground. Howard's use of unmodified Graphic Chemical waterbased relief ink as a soft ground works well on copper plates, but less perfectly on other metals. The primary benefits of the modified Orono ground lie in its fast drying time, enhanced mordant resistance, variable thickness, and suitability to the entire range of metal salt etching processes. The ingredients of the Orono ground can also be easily adjusted to suit the particular needs of the artist. For example, an increase in the binder content will result in greater mordant resistance, while an increase in the retarder content will extend the working times of the soft ground.
This ground has very good mordant resistance and can be used in the same manner as a traditional wax soft ground, i.e. for transfer drawing as well as for textured impressions. Many printmakers also value it as a roll-on hard ground which accommodates very detailed and wax-like drawing qualities.
Keith Howard, soft ground plate and print
The mixture described here is extremely good at supporting the reproduction of imprinted details on any kind of metal. Tests made at the University of Maine showed superior results in comparison with the conventional wax-based method. Orono ground works well in a thick or thin layer, and responds quickly and accurately to the corroding mordant.The mixing method for the Orono ground is similar to the mixing of printing inks.
MATERIALS
Products and Equipment needed to make up the Orono soft ground:
- Graphic Chemical waterbased relief printing ink (e.g. cobalt blue 1600C - other colors may also work)
- Golden Acrylic GAC 200 acrylic medium or Lascaux 2060
- Speedball Transparent Screenprinting base or Rowney System 3 screenprinting medium
- clean mixing slab
- long palette knife
- sand paper/ electric sander
- roller
- metal plate
METHOD
Make up the Orono soft ground as follows:
The Orono ground is made up of five parts:
- Spread out a
good amount (e.g. 3 scoops) of the Graphic Chemical Cobalt Blue 1660C relief printing ink onto a clean mixing slab
- Add 1 scoop of Golden Acrylic GAC 200 acrylic medium (or Lascaux 2060)
- Add 1 scoop of Speedball Transparent Screenprinting base (or Rowney System 3 screenprinting medium)
- Thoroughly work the components into one another using a long palette knife, until a thorough blend has been achieved. The soft ground is now ready for rolling onto a degreased and lightly sanded plate.
- Roll the ground thinly onto the plate using multiple passes
- For SOFT GROUND: After making impressions, dry the ground (using a drying cabinet or hairdryer). Make sure the ground no longer feels tacky before etching.
- For HARD GROUND: Once dry, the ground also makes an excellent hard ground similiar to a traditional wax ground.
Refer to Keith Howard's explanation of soft ground drawing and impressions methods, which are also suitable for use with the Orono ground.
Useful Tip: An ink roller used for the Orono ground should be soaked in detergent solution immediately after use to prevent hardening of its delicate surface.
Intaglio Manual Beginners Compendium Etching Ingredients