Etching and Other Graphic Arts

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XV PRINTING List of Materials.--Press Heater Blankets Jigger Inks Printing Muslin Plate Oils Retroussage, or Palette Knife Stumping Muslin Ink Dabber or Ink Roller Whiting Slab Sponge Muller Brush N etching press has nothing in com mon with a type printing press. The principle is that of the ordinary clothes-wringer or laundry mangle. The essential parts are two steel rollers, ten inches or more in length, placed one above another, the lower being larger in diameter. Originally these rollers were made of wood. Between them is a movable bed of steel on which is sometimes placed a sheet of zinc and upon this the plate to be printed is laid. If the pressure is uneven, pieces of paper can be put under the zinc plate. To pass this bed between the rollers, the upper wheel has attached to its axis a hub with either long-handled spokes or a geared wheel. The former type is known as the Star press, the latter is called a Geared press. A rigid enough frame to hold these parts in position and a couple of screws connected by grooves in the frame with the upper roller to regulate the pressure, complete the essential parts of an etching press. Custom has sanctioned the practise of putting several thicknesses of cardboard between the axis of the upper roller and the screw. All presses have this cushion, as it is called, but I have been unable to find any one who would maintain that as good a print could not be made from a press in which these boards were lacking. However, in the early form of presses, these bits of cardboard were necessary to regulate the pressure. The saying still exists in printing establishments, Take a card out, meaning to reduce the pressure. As the pressure in printing etchings is very great, all parts of a press should be...