4^2 AQUA TINTA. 



To form the lights and shadows, take a blunt 

 needle, and mark out the outlines only, then with 

 a scraper scrape off the lights in every part of the 

 plate, as clean and smooth as possible, in propor- 

 tion to the strength of the lights in your drawing, 

 taking care not to hurt your outlines. 



The use of the burnisher is to soften or rub 

 down the extreme light parts after tlie scraper is 

 done with ; such as the tip of the nose, forehead, 

 linen, &c. which might otherwise, when proved, 

 appear rather misty than clear. 



Another method used by mezzotinto scrapers, 

 is, to etch the outlines of the original, as also the 

 folds in drapery, making the breadth of the sha- 

 dows by dots, which having bit to a proper depth 

 with aqua fortis, they take oft' the ground used in 

 etching, and having laid the mezzotinto ground, 

 proceed to scrape as above. 



When your plate is ready for taking a proof or 

 impression, send it to the copper-plate printer, and 

 get it proved. When the proof is dry, touch it 

 with white chalk where it should be lighter, and 

 with black chalk where it should be darker ; and 

 when the print is retouched, proceed as before, for 

 the lights ; and for the shades use a small ground- 

 ing-tool, as much as you judge necessary to bring 

 it to a proper colour ; and when you have done as 

 much as you think expedient, prove it again ; and 

 so proceed to prove and touch till it is entirely to 

 your mind. 



AQUA TINTA. 



Aqua'tinia is a method of producing prints very 

 much resembling drawings in Indian-ink. 



