Drypoint Printing Process and Techniques.
Drypoint printing offers versatility, enabling artists to create various effects. Artists can combine this technique with other printmaking methods like etching or aquatint to achieve different results.
People know Drypoint prints for their rich, textured lines and distinctive, expressive quality. Typically, artists make Drypoint plates from materials such as copper, zinc, or plexiglass. The fragility of the burr limits the number of high-quality prints that artists can produce from a single plate, making each print unique and potentially more valuable.
Drypoint Printing Process
Drypoint techniques also contain different and unique steps just like other printmaking methods.
Preparing the Drypoint Plate
The very first step is to select a desired material plate and prepare it by properly cleaning its surface and smoothing its edges. You can create a smooth surface by burnishing it with a fine tool or sandpaper.
Drawing the Image
An artist uses a drypoint needle or a similar pointed tool to draw or scratch the image onto the plate. The pressure applied when scratching creates a burr or ridge of displaced metal along the edges of the incised lines.
Inking the Plate
The plate’s surface is then applied with ink, and the excess ink is wiped away, leaving ink only in the incised lines and the burr created during the scratching process. The ink sticks to both the lines and the burr, creating a rich, textured quality to the printed image.
Printing
Place the inked plate on an etching press machine, and lay a sheet of dampened paper on top of it. Run the plate and paper through the press under pressure to transfer the ink from the plate to the paper.
Repeating the Process
Multiple prints can be made from a single drypoint plate, but the quality of the image may gradually decrease as the burr wears down with each impression. Artists may choose to re-ink the plate to maintain the richness of the lines.
Advantages of DryPoint Printmaking
The drypoint printmaking technique offers several benefits for printmaking artists, here are some of the key advantages of drypoint.
Direct and Intimate Process
Drypoint allows the artists to work directly on the printing plate, usually made of metal or plastic. This directness fosters a close connection between the artist and the image, enabling them to make subtle and expressive marks with ease.
Versatility
Artists can use drypoint, a versatile technique, in various combinations with other printmaking methods like etching or aquatint to achieve a wide range of textures and effects. This versatility allows for creative experimentation and exploration.
Rich Tonal Range
Drypoint is known for its ability to create a rich tonal range. The pressure applied when incising the plate results in a burr, which holds ink and prints as soft, velvety lines and tones. It helps the Artists to achieve a broad spectrum of greys and a wide variety of textures.
Variable Editions
Since the printing plate gradually wears down with each impression, each print in an edition can have subtle variations, which collectors often find appealing. This variability adds a unique and handcrafted quality to each print.
Reproducibility
Drypoint printmaking allows artists to produce multiple copies of their artwork just like any other printmaking technique, but in this specific technique the ink sticks to both the lines and the burr, creating a rich, textured quality making it an excellent choice for producing limited edition prints. This can help artists reach a wider audience and make their work more accessible to collectors.
Quick Process
Drypoint printing is generally quicker and more direct than some other printmaking methods, such as engraving or mezzotint. Artists can produce prints relatively efficiently, which can be preferable for creating multiple editions or exploring new ideas.
Low Toxicity
Drypoint is a nontoxic technique not unlike some other intaglio printmaking techniques, like traditional etching with acid that often involves chemicals. Drypoint may be a preferred option for artists concerned about safety in the studio.
Different Techniques of Drypoint Printmaking
There are several variations of drypoint printmaking techniques.
Traditional Drypoint
In traditional drypoint, artists scratch an image directly onto a metal plate, often made of copper, zinc, or plexiglass/acrylic. The incised lines they create produce burrs or rough edges, which retain ink when they ink the plate. They subsequently wipe and print the plate, producing the characteristic soft, velvety lines.
Multiple-Plate Drypoint
Artists can create multiple plates, each with different elements of an image, and print them together to create a composite image. This allows for different colors or tonal effects in one print.
Color Drypoint
To add color to drypoint prints, artists use separate plates for each color. They ink each plate with its respective color and print them sequentially, creating a multi-colored image.
A la Poupée
In this technique, an artist inks a single plate with multiple colors by using small inked balls, cotton pads, or other tools to selectively apply different colored inks to specific areas of the plate. The artist then prints the plate, resulting in a print with multiple colors.
Chine-Collé
Chine-Collé is a method where thin pieces of colored or decorative paper are stuck to the printing paper during the printing process. The paper is placed on top of the inked plate, and the pressure from the printing press machine transfers the image to the printing paper while simultaneously attaching the thin colored paper.
Embossed Drypoint
In this variation, little to no ink prints the plate, creating an embossed, three-dimensional effect on the paper. Artists can combine this technique with traditional drypoint to create texture and depth in the print.
Drypoint allows for expressive and textured lines and is known for its unique quality compared to other intaglio techniques like etching and engraving. Artists often explore drypoint to create works with a distinct character and atmosphere.
