Unit 12 Live Brief. Mother & Child. Incogniton Intaglio

In the afternoon of the 5/5/2017, I completed an Intaglio print from a secondary research image as a reference. The image I selected was deliberately in a minimalist presentation. I choose  to produce a print with this image because, I felt that it would be successful and effective print-and I was correct in my thinking so.

Intaglio is method of printing where-oil based Intaglio ink-which is contained within large tins, not tubes-is applied to an aluminium sheet-in a coat as thinly as possible-using the edges of a card scrap. (The smooth thin layer of the ink is necessary for a successful print.)

As an oil based medium, Intaglio ink will stain-just as oil paints do so. So during the preparation of an Intaglio print, one must take protective precautions by wearing disposable gloves and an apron. Removing all jewellery is advisable, as is not wearing your Sunday best during Intaglio printing-it is a time consuming and messy process. And I do not use "messy" in a light way either.

Once you are well protected and you've scraped the ink over the metal sheet, the next stages of the Intaglio process can begin. Intaglio is a form of printing, where the print is produced by scraping away ink from the covered plate. And the design drawn on the plate is made, using cotton buds for the line work and damp cotton rags for the removal of larger areas.

For the removal of the ink, using the damp material, one does so in a circular fashion. The damp state of the cotton rag and the paper on which one applies to the plate-and then through the printing press-is also vital is it helps in producing a cleaner print.

Once your design has been scraped and rubbed away, you place the plate, facing upwards and a sheet of damp paper, on top of it. On the top and below these two items are layers of paper, and on the top and bottom of those layers, are thick fabric sheets. Once the materials are properly layered, its then time to put this through the printing press!

When the entire sandwich is pressed out, in the opposite direction, one peels the plate, away from the damp sheet-and on the sheet-the Intaglio print has been produced!

Insert image(S) of your own intaglio print(S) as well as analysis of outcome(s)