Gravuuritulostus

Gravuuritulostus, also known as intaglio printing, is an artistic printmaking technique where the image is incised into a surface. This surface is typically a metal plate, most commonly copper or zinc. The artist creates the image by scratching, etching, or engraving into the plate, creating recessed lines or areas.

Once the image is prepared, the plate is inked. The ink is applied liberally to the surface, filling all the incised lines and depressions. The excess ink is then carefully wiped from the raised, un-etched surface of the plate, leaving ink only within the recessed areas.

A sheet of damp paper is then placed over the inked plate. The paper is run through a printing press, which exerts significant pressure. This pressure forces the paper into the recessed lines, picking up the ink and transferring the image to the paper. The result is a print where the lines appear raised from the surface of the paper due to the ink being pushed out from the recessed areas.

There are several methods within gravuuritulostus, including drypoint, etching, and aquatint. Drypoint involves scratching lines directly into the plate with a sharp needle. Etching uses acid to bite lines into the plate, often after the plate has been covered with a protective ground. Aquatint creates tonal areas by dusting the plate with rosin particles and then heating it, allowing the acid to etch the surface in a stippled pattern. Gravuuritulostus is known for producing prints with rich, deep blacks and fine detail.