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Gianni Gamba

Techniques

From the plate to the print.

The five stages of the etching process: varnishing the plate, drawing with the needle, acid biting, inking and printing on the press
The etching process

Etching

An intaglio technique in which the drawing is scratched through a protective varnish coating the plate, then revealed by an acid bite. It allows great freedom and fineness of line.

Aquatint

An intaglio process used to obtain tonal values and surfaces. A resin is deposited on the plate and then bitten by acid, creating textures and gradations ranging from light grey to deep black.

Mezzotint

An intaglio technique built on the handling of tonal values. The plate is first roughened all over, then progressively burnished smooth to bring out forms, producing dense blacks and velvety gradations.

Printing

The matrix plates are inked and printed on an etching press. The prints are then numbered and signed.

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