Hydro Coat Etching

Having prepared the two Hydrocoat plates last week, it was time to etch them today. After discussing the plates and the quality of the image, Brian and I decided to omit the aquatint. The reason was that the aquatint screen applied at the plate exposing stage seemed to have done a good job of adding dots.

Hydrocoat background plate before etching.

Hydrocoat foreground plate before etching.

The initial etch, including the transfer to the water bath, took 35 seconds. A loop was used to examine the plate and assess the interaction between the acid and the plate. This involved observing the dot pattern and attempting to gauge the depth of the etching.

In the open bite areas, it looked good with plenty of detail visible. I replaced the plate back in the acid for 25 more seconds, washed and dried it, then checked again. I returned it to the acid (20:1 Nitric) for another 35 seconds. After washing and drying, I assessed it once more. I then placed it in for another 10 seconds and washed it for 15 seconds afterwards.

So all in 35+ 25+ 30 +15 = 1’ 45”

NOTE: DO NOT  degrease with ammonia and whiting. Use  meth or soy sauce.

Plate 1 - Background proof.

Plate 2 - Foreground proof.

Inking the plate.