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Intaglio Print: Etching (is one of the printmaking techniques) - A zinc metal plate is covered with a soft or hard ground (an acid resistant wax) and drawn onto using a variety of sharp instruments. When the plate is immersed in acid, the bare metal, exposed by the lines of the drawing is eroded. The longer in the acid, the deeper the line and the darker it will print. Varying depths of line can be achieved by 'stopping out' - applying a varnish over the finer detail work and then placing in the acid again for a second 'bite'. In order to obtain a print, a viscous greasy ink is pushed into the etched grooves, and then the surface is wiped clean with muslin, leaving only the etched areas retaining ink ready to print.