Our Process
Learn how we handcraft & print all of our editions
How does the printing process work?
Etching is a form of intaglio printmaking in which a copper plate is treated and then etched with an acid solution, creating microscopic grooves in the plate’s surface that hold ink. Most often, the artist draws directly onto a treated plate, either directly incising it with a sharp or abrasive tools or using materials like sugar, soap, grease, or wax. A single print is often composed of between one and six plates, each holding a color, and sometimes requires additional layers depending on the image. The master printers wipe oil-based ink onto the plates, pressing the pigment into the grooves or marks on the surface before running them through a press with dampened paper, using extreme and uniform pressure to impart the image onto the sheet.
What is intaglio printing?
The word intaglio is derived from the Italian “intagliare,” or “to incise,” and describes a family of printmaking techniques where the image is carved into a matrix, traditionally a metal plate, and the recessed areas hold and carry ink instead of the raised surface. Common forms of intaglio printmaking include aquatint, engraving, photogravure, drypoint, and mezzotint—a single print often combines several of these methods. Dating back to the 15th century, intaglio printmaking is a rich historical practice that has been utilized for centuries by artists like Albrecht Durer, Francisco De Goya, Pablo Picasso, and Marry Cassatt and continues to expand and be built upon by leading contemporary artists.
How does an artist’s idea get transferred to a copper plate?
To initiate a project, the artist and printer test multiple modes of mark-making on copper plates to determine the best approach to developing an image or artwork. The artist, collaborating closely with the master printers, produces multiple early iterations of an image, or “proofs.” In this stage, the artist and printer make various improvements, like adjusting the color of the ink, fine-tuning the quality of each mark, and making deletions. Once the artist is satisfied with a final proof, it is designated as the B.A.T. or “Bon À Tirer,” meaning “good to pull” in French, and serves as the standard used for all prints in the edition. From here, the work is ready to be editioned and made into multiples.
How long does it take?
The length of the process varies from artist to artist and is determined by the image’s ongoing needs. An artist can work in the studio for several days or weeks consecutively or revisit the print for months and even years before arriving at the final version of the print or the B.A.T. Once a B.A.T. is approved, the master printers begin editioning the work, which typically takes several months.