Specificity of choosing the form material for intaglio printing

The article analyzes the specifics of the choice of the printing form in relation to the main techniques of artistic intaglio printing. The historical context of the development of techniques from the emergence of engraving on metal to the development of etching techniques, aquatints, mezzotints is considered. The evolution of techniques from printing to an independent genre of graphic art.

A comparative analysis of the main materials for the manufacture of printing forms is carried out: copper, brass, zinc - to determine their properties, advantages and disadvantages for the use of various techniques for making forms.

The analysis showed that copper is the most optimal material for mechanical techniques (dry needle, midorite, mezzotint) due to its material properties. Brass is a universal material that is suitable for both mechanical and chemical methods of making forms. This ensures a fairly high popularity of the material among professional graphic artists. Zinc is a recommended option for making forms by the chemical method, where the main advantage of the material is high clarity and contrast of the print.

The article describes the results that allow us to understand the criteria for choosing the printing form to obtain the best quality of printmaking. The results can be used by graphic artists, art schools, and printmaking workshops.

Keywords: printmaking, etching, aquatint, artist, intaglio, printing form.

doi: 10.32403/0554-4866-2025-2-90-55-63