Question

Etching and engraving are both intaglio processes. In 50 words or less, describe, in the text box below, the difference in line quality between an etching and an engraving.

Answer 1

The primary difference in the line quality between etching and engraving is that engraving is a physical process whereas etching is a chemical process. An engraver uses sharp tools to cut lines directly into a surface, while an etcher burns lines into a surface with acid.

Because engraving produces a very hard, thin line, engraved prints tend to have crisp edges and sharp particulars that most other printing methods can’t accomplish. For this reason, engraving is an ideal technique for printing currency. Etching, on the other hand, tends to produce a fuzzier line; this occurs because the acid burns laterally under the wax, created a wider and rougher line than the artist formerly drew. Also, because the artist doesn’t have to exert as much force on an etching plate, etchings tend to possess a softer, more fluid line closer to that of freehand drawing. Fine artists -- historical and modern -- often combine etching and engraving in a single artwork, which produces a wider range of visual effects.

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