DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20658#0353
AQUA-TINT A,
333
•which are to be left perfectly white, or where there is no shade. Raise a border of wax round
the plate; and having reduced the aqua-fortis to a proper state, by diluting it with vinegar or
water, pour it on the plate, and let it remain there for about five minutes, which will be sufficient
Reproduce the first or lightest tint. The spirit must then be poured off, the plate washed in fair
water, and set on its edge to dry. With the varnish now stop up all the lightest shades, and
pour on the aqua-fortis as before, for the second tint; and after letting it stand for about five
minutes pour it off. and again wash and dry the plate ; proceed in the same manner for the third
tint; and also for the following, if more than three be required, until the darkest shade be pro-
duced. Sometimes a bold open ground is requiied in part of the work; when this is the case,
another ground must be laid on that part of the plate, by sifting coarse powder, or even resin
alone thereon, and the plate must be heated to,a greater degree: all the other parts of the plate
are then to be stopped up with the varnish, and the aqua-fortis suffered to act only where the
coarse ground is laid, and where,-consequently, the shade will be much bolder. The sky and
distant objects, in landscape, which require to be faint, are also performed by a second operation;
but with this difference, ^that they require finer powder, and to be laid on with a finer sieve : the
plate must likewise be less heated than in the general method. When any parts require to be
higher finished, as is sometimes the case in the trees, and in objects in the fore-ground, the plate
must be entirely cleansed from grease by rubbing it with some crumb of bread : a common
etching-ground is then laid thereon, and the work finished with the needle or point, and bit in
with aqua-fortis; and sometimes finished with the dry point only, in which manner it may be
rendered as neat as possible.
The Preparation of the Powder for the Aqua-Thda Ground.
Take of asphaltum and fine transparent resin equal parts, and pound them separately. Through
a muslin sieve sift upon a sheet of paper a thin stratum of asphaltum, upon which sift a similar
layer of the resin ; upon this again another layer of asphaltum, and.so on alternately, continuing
these alternate layers till both of the powders are exhausted : then pass the mixture through the
same sieve once or twice, or till both appear to be sufficiently incorporated, when it is ready
for use. Instead of4his powder some use gum sandrack only. But when the above mixture is
used it is absolutely necessary that the resin and asphaltum be sufficiently mixed together, other-
wise they will not act equally on the copper, and by that means greatly deceive the artist.
The following is the method recommended by M. Le Prince, which certainly deserves
attention, not only for the novelty of the invention, but also for its success in many instances;
and however it may have been superseded by other discoveries, it has afforded, and still affords
a useful hint to the artist.
Reduce a sufficient quantity of gum juniper (though gum copal is now preferred) to a fine
powder, and divide it by sifting it through three or four sieves, of different fineness, into as many
respective parcels. The first powder serves for the lightest shades; as very distant objects, the
sky, &c. : the.next coarser powder for the middle tints ; and the coarsest for fore grounds, and
the deepest shadows. The outlines being etched on the plate, in the common manner of etching,
and the copper greased as directed in the foregoing method, sift on the plate a layer of the finest
,powder: >sb.ake-off the superfluous part by striking it against the table, and beat the.plate gently,
tUJ
333
•which are to be left perfectly white, or where there is no shade. Raise a border of wax round
the plate; and having reduced the aqua-fortis to a proper state, by diluting it with vinegar or
water, pour it on the plate, and let it remain there for about five minutes, which will be sufficient
Reproduce the first or lightest tint. The spirit must then be poured off, the plate washed in fair
water, and set on its edge to dry. With the varnish now stop up all the lightest shades, and
pour on the aqua-fortis as before, for the second tint; and after letting it stand for about five
minutes pour it off. and again wash and dry the plate ; proceed in the same manner for the third
tint; and also for the following, if more than three be required, until the darkest shade be pro-
duced. Sometimes a bold open ground is requiied in part of the work; when this is the case,
another ground must be laid on that part of the plate, by sifting coarse powder, or even resin
alone thereon, and the plate must be heated to,a greater degree: all the other parts of the plate
are then to be stopped up with the varnish, and the aqua-fortis suffered to act only where the
coarse ground is laid, and where,-consequently, the shade will be much bolder. The sky and
distant objects, in landscape, which require to be faint, are also performed by a second operation;
but with this difference, ^that they require finer powder, and to be laid on with a finer sieve : the
plate must likewise be less heated than in the general method. When any parts require to be
higher finished, as is sometimes the case in the trees, and in objects in the fore-ground, the plate
must be entirely cleansed from grease by rubbing it with some crumb of bread : a common
etching-ground is then laid thereon, and the work finished with the needle or point, and bit in
with aqua-fortis; and sometimes finished with the dry point only, in which manner it may be
rendered as neat as possible.
The Preparation of the Powder for the Aqua-Thda Ground.
Take of asphaltum and fine transparent resin equal parts, and pound them separately. Through
a muslin sieve sift upon a sheet of paper a thin stratum of asphaltum, upon which sift a similar
layer of the resin ; upon this again another layer of asphaltum, and.so on alternately, continuing
these alternate layers till both of the powders are exhausted : then pass the mixture through the
same sieve once or twice, or till both appear to be sufficiently incorporated, when it is ready
for use. Instead of4his powder some use gum sandrack only. But when the above mixture is
used it is absolutely necessary that the resin and asphaltum be sufficiently mixed together, other-
wise they will not act equally on the copper, and by that means greatly deceive the artist.
The following is the method recommended by M. Le Prince, which certainly deserves
attention, not only for the novelty of the invention, but also for its success in many instances;
and however it may have been superseded by other discoveries, it has afforded, and still affords
a useful hint to the artist.
Reduce a sufficient quantity of gum juniper (though gum copal is now preferred) to a fine
powder, and divide it by sifting it through three or four sieves, of different fineness, into as many
respective parcels. The first powder serves for the lightest shades; as very distant objects, the
sky, &c. : the.next coarser powder for the middle tints ; and the coarsest for fore grounds, and
the deepest shadows. The outlines being etched on the plate, in the common manner of etching,
and the copper greased as directed in the foregoing method, sift on the plate a layer of the finest
,powder: >sb.ake-off the superfluous part by striking it against the table, and beat the.plate gently,
tUJ