Re: asphaltum

Calfee, Laura writes:
> A while back, there was a thread on asphaltum. I missed the beginning and
> was wondering what prompted the discussion.

I think I started it by saying that either asphaltum or rosin can be used
in laying an aquatint ground on the copper plates used in photogravure.
Either leaves a fine dust which, when melted to the plate or the gelatin,
acts as a grainy resist for the acid etch.

I use rosin.

Asphaltum is also a component in regular etching grounds, either hard
(melted with rosin and beeswax) or soft (tallow is melted into hard
ground).

--Eric
Received on Mon Dec 10 12:31:20 2001