In Acrylic Resist Etching metal plates are etched in metal salts rather than acids, which avoids the toxic fumes produced by the traditional etching process.

The etch is one part copper sulphate to two parts salt and is suitable for etching tanks and flat tray baths, where the plates can be etched face up.

The process lends itself to the aquatint method also. At BPM, we use an acrylic aquatint called Hunt Speedball, which is applied with an air brush and compressor in a spray booth with extraction system.

The mixture is two parts Speedball to one part water plus a small amount of clear Lascaux Acrylic Resist Ground.

The aquatint screen-filler is red in colour and can be clearly seen when sprayed onto aluminium plates.

Etching by Dick Clark