It's all about the metal

When Monika was eluding to different metals and how they change the etching in class on Friday, I became curious as to what various metals do to etchings.
So, I did a little research, and I found out a lot from this fantastic little (well, not so little) book called The Printmaking Bible by Ann D'Arcy Hughes and Hebe Vernon-Morris. In their intaglio etching section, they clearly explain how three metals are the most commonly used: copper, zinc, and steel. Copper creates sharp lines and a white background (if wiped properly). It is the traditional choice, but do to rising costs, artists have been switching to zinc. With zinc, it produces a clear line (though not as crisp as copper), and color is not a good reliable option. Zinc will change the pigments. Colors darken; yellow turns green; white changes to gray. Finally, there's steel, the cheapest and hardest of the three metals. Steel produces rough lines, and the grain will produce a background if not sanded. However, steel is ideal for color because it won't change the pigments.
This is just a general overview of what I found in the book. It really is a great resource to look at if you have a chance.
But don't take my word for it! Ba-dum bum!
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