The artists repository and drawing magazine: exhibiting the principles of the polite arts in their various branches (2.1788)

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Hold the handle in the hollow of the hand, and
extend the fore-finger toward the point, refting on the
back of the graver, that you may guide it with more
eafe.

Take care that your fingers do not interpofe between
the plate and the graver, but let the whole machine Hide,
as it were, along the plate ; and truft to the refinance
of the copper for its fteadi nefs. Delicacy of feeling,
is a prime quality in a good engraver.

Let the table or board you work at, be firm and
fteady.

For ffrait ftrokes, let the plate lie fiat on the table.

For circular or crooked ftrokes, place the plate on
the fand-bag, and hold the graver firm, moving your
hand, or the plate, as you fee convenient.

Learn to carry your, hand with fuch dexterity, that
you may end your ftroke as finely as you began it;
and if you have occafion to make one part deeper or
blacker than another, do it by re-entering that ftroke. ,

In the courfe of the work, fcrape off the barb or
roughnefs which arifes, with the fcraper j but be careful,
in doing this, not to fcratcb/the plate.

Miflakes or fcratches in the plate may be rub-
bed out with the burnifher, and the part cleared v/ith
the fcraper \ polifh it again afterwards lightly with the
burnifher.

'When you wifh to examine what work you have
done, rub it with the oil-rubber, which, by filling the
ftrokes with black, will fhew them, when the plate is
wiped, to the beft advantage, Too much oil-rubbing

• ' ~ injures