Soft-ground Etching
ソフトグラウンド・エッチング / 18th century–present / Technique / Intaglio Printing
An etching method in which pressure through paper or contact with a textured object marks a soft resist before the plate is etched. It can produce grainy, pencil-like lines or transferred surface textures. These differ from direct drypoint scratches and needle drawing through a hard ground.
At a glance
Visual cues
- Grainy, pencil-like lines
- Paper or object textures transferred to the plate
- Soft transitions between line and area
- Density varies with pressure and contact
Best used for
- Exhibitions and teaching that compare Soft-ground Etching with neighbouring print techniques
- Publications studying lines, tones and paper through documented works
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Dictionary entry
- Type
- Keep lettering in the work separate from added labels; place medium, artist and date outside the image.
- Composition
- Compare pressure and contact textures, separating soft lines from background density.
- Material
- Check the collection medium record and the paper and ink; do not infer materials from screen colour alone.
- Caution
- A pencil-like appearance does not prove the method. Check the resist process and other intaglio techniques recorded for the work.
- Further study
- Soft ground, contact and texture / MoMA — German Expressionism intaglio / Mixed intaglio techniques
Related entries
- Etching (エッチング／腐食銅版画)Same Intaglio Printing lineage.Compare Soft-ground Etching and Etching
- Drypoint (ドライポイント)Same Intaglio Printing lineage.Compare Soft-ground Etching and Drypoint
More from Intaglio Printing
Continue through styles in the same Intaglio Printing family, prioritised by shared effects.
- Intaglio (凹版印刷)Shared effects: Calm.
- Mezzotint (メゾチント)Shared effects: Calm.
- Aquatint (アクアチント)Shared effects: Calm.
Browse all Intaglio Printing entries
Cite this entry
The dictionary is meant to be linked to. Take whichever form fits where you are writing.
- Link
- https://indexstyle.org/styles/soft-ground-etching
- Markdown
- [Soft-ground Etching — IndexStyle](https://indexstyle.org/styles/soft-ground-etching)
- HTML
- <a href="https://indexstyle.org/styles/soft-ground-etching">Soft-ground Etching — IndexStyle</a>