212 ETCHING. 
é laid on the with the drawi ards, ther, for the pu of facili the escape of the Etching. » 
one it tight ot tanening it at oye 7 very ok ta gas. This not oufy hastens vm hea but renders Rt . 
Etching 
map cn any ich is 
drawing must now be traced with a blunt and smooth 
pointed ome ced per hes — — in etch- 
. During tracing, i t int must 
touch the plate. To enoure thin, a heart cated 
ing-board, must be used. This is a thin board with a 
bevelled edge, and supported at each end, so as to form 
aren ove oes without touching it. Without 
his, the pressure of the hand upon the drawing would 
cause the varnish to be with red lead, and thus 
the outline indistinct. The whole of the lines 
being traced, the paper is to be removed, when the out- 
line will be seen in the colour of the red lead. 
f the surface of the varnish be coated with a paint- 
like composition of white lead and solution of glue, and 
the back of the drawing be covered with fine lamp- 
black instead of red no | the outline produced by tra- 
ing will be in black lines, and very distinct. 
~ ihe sated gebeem fe $0 trace the lines marked u 
the varnish with the etching needle. These, as 
been observed, are formed of cast steel wire, about 
two inches long, and in little wood or ivory 
handles. The points, of which there are varie- 
ty, are formed and kept smooth and sharp by rubbin; 
lengthwise upon an oil-stone, causing the needle 
to revolve between the fingers as it is moved backwards 
and forwards. The same operation must be repeated 
eminem 
degretssef haneaeg uecghe pelt, santa esate 
on int, ing to the fine- 
ness or of the lines in the design. This must 
be left entirely to the judgment of the artist. In land- 
or 
depend ~ the dexterity, Judgment, and taste of the 
The point of the needle merely passes through the 
varnish, laying bare a portion of the copper equal to 
next thing is to for applyi 
gear ey Sa t is, technically called biting in. 
The plate is first surrounded with a tion 
of bees-wax and pitch and tallow. This. forms a 
t to remove it from the plate. 
T aquslorts employed is generally known by the 
first of these 
diluted with from two to three parts of wa- 
The ee emcee souls toquine sore: seniam: 
iquor should, at any rate, be such 
uce a moderate effervescence with heae 
id liquor should be in a widish mou 
with a glass stopper, which it may be 
Poured on to the ‘plate, and. back into the bottle 
ip of sax in the comes. 
the first 
a 
ger} 
iF 
On ing of the liquor upon the plate, 
«mall bubbles air will soon. appear, ae if.emergi 
from the lines on the plate. The whole mass of 
i 
be slightly agitated with fps a 
“wax from thesides, While the plate is still warm, it 
the corrosion more uniform. 
As soon as the finest lines are deemed sufficiently °PP!yinathe 
deep, the liquor is to be poured back into the bottle. 
The plate must now be well rinsed with water, and 
dried at a heat not capable of melting the wax or var- 
rtgl 
peut 
ile 
Hig 
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iE 
: 
re 
i 
i 
Evi 
i! 
2 ee. 
if 
bee 
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3 
i 
<5 
tei 
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a 
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be smeared over with oil of tu’ ine, or olive 
what is ch , Spirit of tar. depetdiaes 
en and dissolve the varnish, by which means: it 
easily be removed, and wi clean with a soft 
or, what is better, currier’s shavings. If, after 
corroded, 
Th 
5% 
2 
Hl 
tf 
7 
may be found n : , 
f ts from it. But it will be 
to take pri to observe, 
that if the etched lines are not gone over by the graver, 
toe ey gy Appts i will soon become 
imperfect the wearing of the plate. Hence re- 
been tried. The first be hardened; without 
afterwards ing them, might be polished with 
similar to 
smoothness and accuracy, 
Oo cee iee pleth alone: That the acid ‘etch these 
Reecllod. the Vesutilll enainants pot epeeeapamiaes 
put upon polished 
steel by etching, as we shall explain in the sequel of 
this article. 
is 
the varnish is first laid on the plate, it requires to be held 
for some time over the fire, as the linseed oil requires 
some time to dry, and become stiff. When the 
king ceases, it may be removed. The sign of i 
heated enough, is its iring such a of adl 
siveness as to hold any thing fast that may be stuck to 
it. This trial is. in i 
Y aquafortis, 
i 
3 
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