Things You'll Need:
- Engraved plate
- Printing ink
- Cloth
- Paper
- Printing press
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Step 1
Sketch your image on a piece of tracing paper with soft pencil.
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Step 2
Moisten a cloth with mineral spirits then rub it on a cake of beeswax.
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Step 3
Rub the cloth on the plate. Distribute a light coat of beeswax to it.
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Step 4
Place the tracing paper on the metal plate with the pencil drawing facing down.
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Step 5
Transfer the drawing to the plate by rubbing it with a bone rubbing tool. The pencil drawing will appear on the plate.
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Step 6
Use the etching needle to inscribe fine guidelines of the drawing into the metal plate.
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Step 7
Choose a burin that gives you the desired thickness and effects for your drawing, as these engraving tools vary widely. Cut thicker engraved lines in with the burin, brushing away any burrs you create so you don't scratch the plate.
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Step 1
Rub ink onto the plate after you inscribe the complete image.
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Step 2
Buff off excess ink with a cloth, leaving ink in the engraved lines.
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Step 3
Place the inked plate on the bed of a printing press.
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Step 4
Place a damp piece of paper, slightly larger than the plate, over the plate.
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Step 5
Run the plate through the press.
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Step 6
Pull the print from the plate.
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Step 7
Continue to run as many prints of the engraving as you wish after making any adjustments you deem necessary to the image after viewing the first proof.
