Etching Ingredients

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advice on materials and suppliers, brands and company links,

is solely given for artist's evaluation, education

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Hard and Soft Ground

note: this listing gives a current overview of options /

the individual pages listed below contain

much more comprehensive information on the topic,

with additional materials and products,

last updated: 2018

HARD GROUND
AQUATINT
STOP-OUT VARNISH
STRIPPING SOLUTIONS

NOTE: MANY ACRYLIC PRODUCTS CONTAIN TRACE VOCs,

SOME OF WHICH MAY BE UNDOCUMENTED BY THE

MANUFACTURER | ALWAYS ENSURE AIRFLOW | IF POSSIBLE

USE ORGANIC NUISANCE MASK WITH CARBON FILTER

HARD GROUND OPTIONS _______________________________________

'Big' Etching Ground a more 'traditional' feeling ground, now used by many printmakers

nontoxic if used with precautions, caution when heating the product

Lascaux Hard Resist add KOH-I-NOOR black for a black ground

popular and used by many printmakers, not all trace ingredients may be documented

Graphic Chemical W/B Relief Ink may work as a hard ground when fully dried
easy to draw into

new formula needs more testing for etching | the product was the base of Keith Howard's original soft ground

Orono Ground works as a hard ground when fully dried
easy to draw into

very popular mixture from 1998 to 2009 (Groce/Kiekeben/UMaine) | an enhanced version of the above (better acid resistance, versatility and consistency)
a few years ago Anne VanOppen developed an updated version of the 'Orono Ground', (scroll down on the page for Anne's instructions)
Hard and Soft Ground

Crisco baking fat or similar                 cover plate evenly and draw!
                                                                    somewhat messy, but a great versatile ground
                                                                    cleans off with dish soap
                                                                    great and easy resist for re-etching

nontoxic!

Vaseline or wax crayons etc as above

Lascaux 2060
clear gloss varnish                               dilute with 5% to 10% water
                                                                   add KOH-I-NOOR black to color
                                                                   best acrylic ground for re-etching
                                                                   also works on polished plates

a potential base ingredient for etching resists |
make sure you use the 'gloss' kind!

Using an Acrylic Spray Resist without Airbrush Compressor?

Liquitex have a new line of acrylic spray paints,
not solvent-free, but based on ethyl alcohol not
Naptha solvents; promises to be considerably safer
than regular spray paints |
use with some ventilation and respirator

NEW: LIQUITEX PROFESSIONAL SPRAY PAINT

Z-Acryl Stop-Out Solution may chip if applied too thickly

discontinued | a unique 'nontoxic' etching polymer developed by Mark Zaffron
ZAcryl offered the first line of custom-developed acrylic products specifically designed for printmaking applications in the mid-90s.
similar consistency to acrylates-based floor finish (such as 'Pledge), but according to Z Acryl MSDS information safe, and without added solvents such as glycol ether or formaldehyde

Z-Acryl Hard Ground easy to strip off using soda ash

discontinued | a unique 'nontoxic' etching polymer developed by Mark Zaffron
ZAcryl offered the first line of custom-developed acrylic products specifically designed for printmaking applications in the mid-90s.
similar consistency to acrylates-based floor finish (such as 'Pledge), but according to Z Acryl MSDS information safe, and without added solvents such as glycol ether or formaldehyde

Hard and Soft Ground Intaglio Manual Printmaking Resources

Safer and innovative etching with: BITUMEN RUBBER

Quote: 'Not classified as hazardous according to criteria of Worksafe Australia.
The product has a very low VOC content of 0.065grams per litre, 'an extremely low rating for any coating'.

GRIPSET BITUMEN RUBBER msds.pdf

Annie Day
www.annieday.com.au

Warringah Printmakers, Sidney
www.printstudio.org.au/

www.gripsetbetta.com/

SAMPLE SUPPLIERS and SOURCES

Anywhere: General Supplies

hardware stores | art stores | online sources
places where you could find some of the listed products or
updated versions and new resists | some of the key
ingredients you can get simply from hardware stores
(acrylic floor finish, KLEAR in Europe, SC Johnson PLEDGE in the US)
or from art material stores and online (acrylic paints and mediums)

        online purchasing samples:
   Hunt Speedball nontoxic Screenfiller - Amazon
          SC Johnson Pledge Floor Care Multi-Surface Finish - Amazon
          Lascaux range of acrylic resists, hard ground etc. - Amazon

Grafisk Eksperimentarium, DK

all kinds of acrylic etching resist

Graphic Chemical, US

Lascaux products and range of resist (hard ground/aquatint/stopout)

Jackson Art Supplies

Lascaux products and range of resist (hard ground/aquatint/stopout)

Renaissance Graphics Arts, US

Akua inks, water-miscible inks by Charbonnel and Caligo

Takach Press Fine Art Printmaking, US

'Big' Etching Ground, a more 'traditional' feeling ground,
nontoxic if used with precautions

Polymetaal, NL

all kinds of acrylic etching resist and products

AQUATINT OPTIONS ____________________________________________

    Left: Speedball Screenfiller
    Right: Badger Aquatint Solution

    Images: Polymetaal
    see Suppliers in PRINTMAKING RESOURCES

Acrylic Aquatint without Airbrush Compressor?

Liquitex have a new line of acrylic spray paints,
not solvent-free, but based on ethyl alcohol not
Naptha solvents; promises to be considerably safer
than regular spray paints |
use for aquatint with some ventilation and respirator

LIQUITEX PROFESSIONAL SPRAY PAINT

Speedball Screenfiller                         dilute with 20% to 30% water
                                                                   very velvety tones
                                                                   red color

Future, Pledge or KLEAR
SCJ acrylic floor polish                                add KOH-I-NOOR black and 5% to 10% water
                                                                   black dots = great visibility on all metals
                                                                   easy stripping in soda ash,
                                                                   can be sprayed as an aquatint,
                                                                   use ventilation and wear organic nuisance mask


Badger Aquatint Solution                   very corrosion resistant
                                                                   requires removal in strong alkaline

Lascaux 2060
clear gloss varnish                               add KOH-I-NOOR black
                                                                   also works as a hard ground

Golden GAC 200 Medium                    dilute with 15% to 20% water
                                                                   add KOH-I-NOOR black
                                                                   very corrosion resistant

Z-Acryl Hard Ground                           can be sprayed as an aquatint (discontinued)

Aquatint

Intaglio Manual

Printmaking Resources

STOP-OUT VARNISH OPTIONS________________________________________

         Left: Z-Acryl Stop-Out Resist
         Right: Z-Acryl Hard Ground Emulsion

         Images: Polymetaal
         see Suppliers in PRINTMAKING RESOURCES

discontinued

Future, Pledge, or KLEAR
acrylic floor polish                                works best on sanded surfaces
                                                                   de-oxidize plates before reworking

inexpensive, crisp, and precise, a clear polymer resist that has
proven ideal for hard ground etching |
best use with some form of respiratory protection / ventilation |
many benefits, including ease of stripping off after etching |
does not mix well with acrylic paints |
the most popular etching ground!

Note on De-Oxidizing (for Brass and Copper only)
Mix 1kg of cooking salt with 1 pint of white vinegar and 1 to 2 liters of water
Use to clean copper after etching the plates and before further resists are applied.
Highly recommended for multiple applications of resist or spray aquatint.

Z-Acryl Hard Ground                            worked best on sanded surfaces
                                                                   de-oxidize plates before reworking

Lascaux Hard Resist                            good for re-etching
                                                                   very similar in characteristics to below

Lascaux 2060
clear gloss varnish                               great for re-etching
                                                                   takes a good line,

Mix the above with 40% to 60% black acrylic paint for an all round stop-out varnish
that is easier to strip

Any acrylic paint:                                   most kinds are ok as an etching resist
acrylics in general                                 will eventually come off due to high pigment
                                                                   content

note: the cheapest acrylics tend to contain solvents such as glycol ether and formaldehyde, and may contain inferior polymers,
also: especially cheap acrylic products and water-based paints but also some expensive kinds may contain carcinogens/neurotoxins such as unreacted methyl groups, or trace amounts of benzene or other solvents that fall below the limits that are declared on safety sheets (e.g. below 1%, below 5%), or are simply omitted but are present non the less. Caution!
The terms 'water-based' and 'VOC free paint' created confusion, an unjustified sense of complete safety, and possibly made some frequent users sick. This is borne out in medical studies (such as the Sheffield study on house painters).

Other acrylic binders and mediums likely to work as an etching resist but many
are too hard to remove
and are unsuitable for line work

Acrylic Resist Etching

Intaglio Manual

Printmaking Resources

TIP: Using and Purchasing Copper Sulfate

Safe to Use: Use it Safely!

Remember, Copper Sulfate is still a chemical and toxic to humans if ingested, so make sure you follow safety instructions and read MSDS sheets prior to use. Always wear gloves, goggles and a mask when handling any etching chemicals. Do not touch, inhale or ingest.

Safe to Ship!

For the printmaker who wants to use the Saline Sulfate Etch, getting hold of small (rather than industrial) quantities of Copper Sulfate is easy. I recently ordered a 5lb bag of Copper Sulfate Crystals over the internet. Because it is a low hazard material, the delivery came by ordinary mail services - simple, safe and economical too. No need for the specialist carriers required when shipping traditional printmaking mordants

For Copper Sulfate Supplies: Wammock Farm Services Inc. www.wammocks.com

Click for ingredients/product options for:

HARD GROUND
AQUATINT
STOP-OUT VARNISH
STRIPPING SOLUTIONS

STRIPPING SOLUTIONS _________________________________________

Orange Zest Solvents Acrylic resists strip off easily with the new citrus-based solvents.
Sample: Z*Acryl D*Solve was an excellent product, ...this particular brand is discontinued

"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

Soda Ash Stripping Bath                   Most acrylic resists strip off easily in a concentrated
                                                                bath of sodium carbonate.
                                                                  Dissolve 1kg of sodium carbonate powder in
                                                                3 to 4 liters (1 gallon) of hot water.
                                                                Leave plates to soak for 10 minutes.

Silkscreen Screen Cleaner                Products based on Sodium Metaperiodate can strip
                                                                etching acrylics with ease.
                                                                Scrub plates with domestic scouring powder
                                                                e.g. Ajax or Comet with HOT WATER.
                                                                Use a scouring pad to remove any acrylic residues.

Intaglio Manual

Printmaking Resources