Printmaking: Mezzotint

There is a way to achieve a mezzotint effect by running a printing plate and a sheet of sandpaper through an etching press - without felt blankets. The imprint of the grit creates small dimples in the surface of the plate which will hold etching ink and create a dark plate tone. Using a scraper and a burnisher, one can then lighten areas by smoothing parts of the plate surface which will hold less or no ink. Other techniques like drypoint or carborundum can be applied on the same plate.

I tried this technique in my print Dialogue.

Aluminium plate, drypoint, carborundum.

Charbonnel etching ink on Fabriano Rosaspina paper. 2009.
Size: 21 x 17cm