Re: Steel point process


David.Clark@Walsworth.com
Thu, 11 Nov 1999 15:50:41 -0600


No, drypoint is not photorealistic. It is simply scribing a copper plate with a
steel point, and then inking and printing the plate under presure with a press.

It is a process in which you can't go back and cover up a mistake, and really
shows off an artist's ability to work a line. Very few artists have the skill
and confidence to do drypoint well.

As an aside, this is where the concept of numbering prints started. Drypoint
leaves a fine edge turned up which is gradually flattened out as the plate is
printed in the edition. Print collectors look for the early numbers of the
edition where this effect is still visible - you usually lose this quality
somewhere around the tenth pull.

David



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