Dry Point Etching Without a Press - How to Hand Print

Someone asked if a drypoint etching (engraving) can be hand printed without a press. The answer is yes, here's how:
Supply list:
Plexiglass
Your Image - either a drawing or photo.
An Etching tool - This can be any sharp object to scratch the plexiglass, I'm using a diamond tip etching pencil in this demo. I've used a pottery tool in the past as well as an Exacto knife.
Black paper or cardboard, this is optional but a helpful tool that I used to see where I've etched
Paper towels or old newspaper - used to. keep your area clean, apply the ink, and remove the ink.
Rubber Gloves
Intaglio Ink - on this demo I use Caligo Safe Wash Relief Ink.
Inking Stump - DIY Instructions here: • DIY Inking Stump from ...
Pre- dampened heavy printmakers paper or watercolor paper - Soaking in a bucket of water until I'm ready to print on them.
Felt
Clean Kitchen Towel - to blot wet paper prior to printing
Large Spoon - to apply pressure to the paper and burnish when needed.
In this demo I hand press the etching with a silver spoon to print.
Thanks for watching.
See more of my art here:
Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/StarluStudio
Instagram: / starlustudio
Website: www.Starlustudio.com

[@TheMarkEH]

This was a masterclass in accessible home printing. Thank you for such an inspirational and insightful video. And your print was fabulous.

[@starlustudio1498]

Wow, thank you! Glad it was helpful.

[@daylematthews]

So pleased to see this process. Thanks for showing and love your image.

[@starlustudio1498]

You are so welcome!

[@robhead22]

That was great! Exactly what i needed to know!! Thank you!

[@starlustudio1498]

Glad it was helpful! :-)

[@cosmicaelatv9625]

So beautiful!

[@starlustudio1498]

Thank you! 😊

[@kendataylor6386]

So helpful and a fantastic etching!!❤

[@starlustudio1498]

So glad it was helpful!

[@GreenlifeFin]

Wow, what a wonderful video! And such a beautiful image, love it. Thanks so much, and also for your kind answers to the comments ❤

[@starlustudio1498]

You are so welcome!

[@LizaCompass]

Such a cool process, thanks for sharing!

[@starlustudio1498]

Thanks Liza!

[@steveb2145]

the best art is sometimes the simplest. thank you for sharing. very inspiring

[@starlustudio1498]

Couldn't agree more! Thank you.

[@Salihah.k]

This is very useful tip. Now I can make print with simple tool around me. Thank you for sharing

[@starlustudio1498]

You are so welcome 🤗

[@davefletch3063]

Thank you for the demo. I loved doing intaglio printing in school, but a press is way outside my budget and work space

[@starlustudio1498]

Glad it was helpful! :-)

[@Windowswatcher]

I've recently done this and we used a pasta making machine, we turned the handle, ensured it came out the other side and it worked. Cardboard, some sort of wadding and the plate and paper... you'd need to try it out and experiment. Also seen it done with a rolling pin.

[@davefletch3063]

@@Windowswatcher awesome idea, thank you

[@adamchilenski]

Excellent tutorial.

[@starlustudio1498]

Glad you liked it!

[@maryvasquez5875]

Fantastic video. The last part made me laugh when you took out the "optional" non slip backing.

[@starlustudio1498]

Ya, I didn't like the imprint left from the "non slip backing" so that's how it became optional. LOL! Live and learn.

[@burczykI]

Yes great video Drypoint is definitely my favorite. I making my tools from steel nails

[@starlustudio1498]

Awesome!

[@Freiya2011]

Wonderful. Thank you!

[@starlustudio1498]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@maryellendunn8899]

Impressive and nice music too!

[@starlustudio1498]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@simonedoherty6195]

Thank you, a very informative video. I do prefer the print without the non-skid backing. No keen on the grid impression so thanks for showing both.

[@starlustudio1498]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching. :-)

[@NyleGames]

Lovely video, thank you! :D

[@starlustudio1498]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@pheenix42]

Also, thanks for that lovely background music!

[@starlustudio1498]

Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@sarahj7232]

wow amazing!

[@starlustudio1498]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@DawnDBoyerPhD]

NICE!

[@starlustudio1498]

Thanks!

[@myrthevp]

Love this video, thank you for that! I was wondering how you let the art pieces dry flat? My paper becomes very uneven

[@starlustudio1498]

Buckling is a common occurrence. I layer my prints between newsprint and pile a bunch of books on top to flatten the paper as it dries.

[@myrthevp]

I'll try that, thank you!!@@starlustudio1498

[@Kayccie]

Thanks so much for sharing! I've had some plexiglass with my supplies for a couple months but haven't worked with it yet because I wasn't sure if it would work without a press and etching ink. Do you think a hand press would apply enough pressure?

[@starlustudio1498]

I don’t know. If you give it a try let me know.

[@carolynbeaugrand6789]

Great video! I just took my first class in printmaking. What is the type/brand of etching tool did you use? Can you just buy any type/thickness of plexiglass? Thank you.

[@starlustudio1498]

In this video I used a diamond tip etching tool I purchased at Dick Blick. I do not see a brand name it. As for the Plexiglass, you can purchase some at Dick Blick. In this video I used repurposed plexiglass from an old frame. The frame plexiglass was not thick so I didn't need to burnish the edges.

[@veganista7]

Thank you for this!! Can you use a water based ink? Also did you re ink between the prints? Thanks 😸

[@starlustudio1498]

I haven't tried with water based inks but It seems like it should work. Yes, I do re-ink between prints.

[@marionwigzell7334]

Beautiful! (-: Marion 🦔

[@starlustudio1498]

Thank you!

[@jessicafilipe7202]

Hey! Thank you for the video! Can you tell me what ink you used? Was it relief ink or etching ink??

[@starlustudio1498]

I used Calico Safe Wash Relief Ink.

[@qiranxu8388]

may i ask if you need to reapply the ink in between each prints? thanks!

[@starlustudio1498]

Yes, you need to reapply the ink for each print.

[@mariamkhoga4748]

This looks great! Thanks a lot, question: how thick should the plexiglass be?

[@starlustudio1498]

I used the plexiglass from an old IKEA picture frame. It is almost flat. If you use a thicker plexiglass you will need to round and burnish the edges to keep it from slicing the paper when you print.

[@GreenlifeFin]

@@starlustudio1498Ah, brilliant, thanks for the Ikea tip. How did you cut the plexi glass piece?

[@starlustudio1498]

@@GreenlifeFin the video link attached has a tutorial showing how I cut the plexiglass. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4WtZmWlpbGbpbcsi=bXL5sFiQ7zi_jvD4 I hope this helps!

[@lara-tm9ec]

Hello can you please tell me why you used felt on the paper while pressing

[@starlustudio1498]

The felt helps to press the paper into the crevasse of the etching creating better paper contact to the plate.

[@Tanushri_art]

Did you wet the paper

[@starlustudio1498]

Yes, the paper is wet then blotted as shown in the video.

[@ant11368]

What’s an etching pencil?

[@starlustudio1498]

It is a tool that is the size of a pencil, also known as an Etching Scribe. It is used to scratch an image into a print plate, or in this case, plexiglass. The one I purchased is an E C Lyons diamond tip Etching Scribe. You can buy them at Blick.

[@simonstown1214]

why not use a rolling pin?

[@starlustudio1498]

A rolling pin might work if you can create enough pressure to make a good transfer. You should give it a try and let me know how it goes.

[@colinslant]

Pedant here to point out this isn't etching, it's engraving.

[@starlustudio1498]

Yes, you are correct, technically it is engraving. I have found that for drypoint art the term "etching" seems to be commonly used interchangeably to engraving. Thank you for your feedback.