REPRODUCTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



ETCHING 



A form of engraving which became popular perhaps 

 a century later than the line engraving and which is 

 still popular, particularly among artists, is the etching. 

 In this process, as in the copper plate, the lines which 

 are to be reproduced are cut into the surface of the 

 metal. But the actual cutting is not done mechanically 

 with a tool but is accomplished by a chemical process, 

 after such lines have been indicated on the waxed surface 

 of the plate. 



In preparing such an engraving the etcher covers 

 the surface of the copper plate with a specially prepared 

 compound of wax smeared over the surface in a thin 

 layer. This wax is not affected by the actions of acids, 

 whereas the copper may be quickly eaten away by them, 

 or "etched, " to any desired depth. By using a pointed 

 needle, therefore, which will scratch away and remove 

 any portion of the thin layer of wax that it touches, 

 surfaces presenting corresponding lines of copper may 

 be exposed, which will be eaten out of the surface of the 

 copper, as pressed by the needle in the wax. In this 

 manner the mechanical effort of cutting out lines is 

 entirely done away with, and the artist is free to make 

 his drawing upon the waxed surface of the copper with a 

 pointed instrument which may be moved about with 

 the greatest freedom. It is possible, also, to correct errors 

 when made before the acid is applied, by resmearing the 

 surface with wax and making over again the drawing 

 at this point. 



[195] 



