Definition of technical terms
Monoprint
A
monoprint is made by placing paper directly on a painting
made on a plate of metal, or other non-porous surface.
The paper and plate are then run through an etching press
which transfers the image from the plate to the paper.
Technically it is a print pulled in an edition of one
which is a unique work using a print medium.
Etching monoprint
As opposed to the usual practice of
making an edition of several identical prints from the
etched plate, an etching monoprint is a unique print from
an etched plate made in an edition of one.
Etching
An intaglio
fine art printmaking technique in which a metal plate is
covered with an acid-resistant layer and then drawn on
using various needle-like tools to reveal the metal. The
metal plate is then immersed in an acid bath and the acid
"eats" the marks which have revealed the metal. The plate
is then removed from the acid and inked up. The ink
remains in the bitten areas of the plate which are below
the surface of the plate. A sheet of damp paper is placed
on the inked-up plate and then run through an etching
press which exerts great pressure and squeezes the paper
into the inked-up areas of the metal plate thus
transferring the image from the metal plate to the paper.
Intaglio
A print
where areas of the image are those that are depressed
below the surface - etching is an intaglio process. As
opposed to a relief print.
Relief print
Prints
which result from printing the raised surface of a plate.
Linocut and woodcuts are relief prints. They are printed
using a method that is the opposite of intaglio prints in
that their surface is rolled with ink and the print is
taken from their surface.
Aquatint
A process
used in etching creating tonal and textural marks. The
process involves dusting the etching plate with a fine
rosin powder which is then heated up so that it adheres
to the plate and is resistant to acid. This creates a
microscopic mottled effect on the plate when bitten in
acid which creates tone when the plate is inked up and
printed.
Chine collé
A
method of obtaining colour in the printmaking process by
printing on thin coloured tissue or collaged
paper.
