DOI issue:
No. 164 (November, 1906)
DOI article:Newbolt, Frank: The art of printing etchings
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20716#0157
The Art of Printing Etchings
arranged over the paper, and pass with it under the ing "; the great fly-wheel revolves, and the bed
upper roller. A "set" of blankets consists of a passes between the rollers. The blanketing is
piece of fine cloth, called "fronting," and two, raised, the paper carefully peeled off, and a "proof"
three, or four layers of "swanskin," as required. It is obtained, which must be dried and flattened,
is a little wider than the plate to be printed, and The illustrations show eight different "proofs,"
great care is necessary in choosing and arranging taken from four plates, which have all but one
the " blanketing," calculating the pressure, round- been passed through the press in this way. The
ing off edges, and generally attending to minute differences observable in them are not due to the
detail. press, which has, with one exception, treated them
How minute and intricate this is may be gathered all alike. The most striking difference, however,
from the fact that the result is affected by the is that noticed in the two proofs from the zinc
insertion of thin pieces of paper under the zinc plate by the late T. Hope McLachlan. The plate
plate, which rests on the bed. is a difficult one to print, as it is thin and rough,
To sum up, the engraved or etched plate, which and the lines are wide and shallow. It was not
has been inked and wiped, is placed on the zinc an engraver's plate at all. The paler impression
plate, and covered with damp paper and " blanket- was obtained by using inferior ink and an old
AN ETCHING BY FRANK BRANGWYN, A.R.A. INKED PROOF
r37
arranged over the paper, and pass with it under the ing "; the great fly-wheel revolves, and the bed
upper roller. A "set" of blankets consists of a passes between the rollers. The blanketing is
piece of fine cloth, called "fronting," and two, raised, the paper carefully peeled off, and a "proof"
three, or four layers of "swanskin," as required. It is obtained, which must be dried and flattened,
is a little wider than the plate to be printed, and The illustrations show eight different "proofs,"
great care is necessary in choosing and arranging taken from four plates, which have all but one
the " blanketing," calculating the pressure, round- been passed through the press in this way. The
ing off edges, and generally attending to minute differences observable in them are not due to the
detail. press, which has, with one exception, treated them
How minute and intricate this is may be gathered all alike. The most striking difference, however,
from the fact that the result is affected by the is that noticed in the two proofs from the zinc
insertion of thin pieces of paper under the zinc plate by the late T. Hope McLachlan. The plate
plate, which rests on the bed. is a difficult one to print, as it is thin and rough,
To sum up, the engraved or etched plate, which and the lines are wide and shallow. It was not
has been inked and wiped, is placed on the zinc an engraver's plate at all. The paler impression
plate, and covered with damp paper and " blanket- was obtained by using inferior ink and an old
AN ETCHING BY FRANK BRANGWYN, A.R.A. INKED PROOF
r37