Two-color etching and aquatint - 1970s.

• 16 x 24 cm plates on Fabriano paper 35 x 50 cm
• Artist's proof printed by Maurizio Scotti

Etching

The copper matrix is ​​smoothed and cleaned, then covered with a brush by a thin layer of beeswax-based paint, mastic, bitumen and solvent. The artist engraves the drawing with a sharp instrument, exposing the metal. The matrix is ​​immersed in an acid bath that corrodes only the uncovered area. Next the plate is cleaned, removing the color from the areas that are not engraved. Printing is carried out with a special overlapping roller press. The card is pressed with the drawing. This operation must be repeated for each print run.

Aquatint

Bitumen or rosin powder is dropped onto the matrix. The plate is heated so that the dust can melt and stick. The microscopic areas that are exposed will be etched by the acid and will be soak up the ink. The intensity of color or black varies according to immersion times.

Two-color printing requires the preparation of two plates: one for the etching that takes on the drawing and one for the colored background.
The design of the first plate is traced onto the second, so that the artist can work on the areas that need to take on the color. Both plates are inked. First the colored background plate is printed and, after blocking the sheet, the plate of the drawing is added, while taking care to maintain the same position.