Etching, Engraving and Other Intaglio Printmaking Techniques (Dover Art Instruction)

Leaf's text covers a remarkable range of intaglio techniques. The first chapters cover the basics of tools, printing papers, and setting up a workshop. Next, she covers the basics of familiar printmaking techniques, etching (including soft ground), aquatint, and some interesting variations. This section also includes recipes for inks and grounds - not encyclopedic, but a basic set of materials for different techniques. Leaf covers each technique methodically, describing its goals, materials, and process. The end of each chapter offers an especially helpful "what went wrong" section.Following the basics, Leaf continues with some elaborations, including multiple layers of aquatint and viscosity printing. She also lays out some unusual techniques, including collographs and "tuilegraphs." That's a fascinating variation on linoleum prints, but based on slightly different materials and very distinctive ways of creating the image in the printing surface.Despite its strengths, this book has a few significant weak spots. Safety standards aren't always what a current reader would hope. For example, discussion of the corrosive etchants talks about flushing eyes with water in case of an acid spash, but doesn't mention goggles. Elsewhere, she mentions protective gloves in the text but omits those gloves from the photos that show the process under discussion. And, when it comes to disposing of spent etchant, I can't agree with pouring "neutralized acid on the ground where you don't expect anything to grow." On the positive side, techniques are profusely illustrated, showing both techniques and finished products.Those problems just mean that the reader should approach this with a critical eye, not avoid it completely. There's just too much good here to give up.-- wiredweird

Well written and informative, especially for new printers. Of course, the book does not take up the newer ground systems,nor did we expect it to. Similarly, the etching instructions apply only to nitric acid etches; there is no mention of ferric chloride and other safer materials. This is hard to explain. Yet, there is some interesting and useful information here. For example the small summary of the printing process. Thus, we give the book 3 stars, and recommend adding it to one's library, while strongly suggesting that new printers consult more recent literature dealing with environmental and safety concerns.

If you are a printmaker and want to know all the basics and a bucketful more about etching and engraving techniques, you must own this book. It is the classic primer regardless of specialty and will help every artist understand the foundations of intaglio based printmaking techniques plus some long forgotten variations. The viscosity printing section in itself is worth the price of the book. Even though the printmaking world has transitioned to less toxic and more earth-friendly techniques, this book must definitely be the cornerstone of anyone interested in intaglio printmaking.

Considered a standard text for etching and engraving, I felt it left a bit to be desired. I much prefered "The Art of Etching" by E.M. Lumsden. Considering the era it written, it seems to be a bit more focused on the mindset of art and experimental creation as opposed to straight forward technical plates.

Borrowed someone else's copy and had to replace it.

This is an excellent reference book. Two things are worth noting: 1) when this book was first published in the 70s, printmaking used traditional, more toxic methods. Non-toxic methods are now proliferating and these are not covered since they didn't exist when it was written.2) the quality of the images reproduced is ok but not high.However, Ruth Leaf knows her stuff and the content of this book is full of insight. 5 stars if it hadn't been for the 2 aforementioned points

I am currently studying Printmaking in college, and I bought this book took have as a reference for the coming semester's projects. I was really happy when I looked over the chapters. There are a lot of processes covered, very clearly explained, and really excellent illustrations to help a visual learner - like me - wrap their head around intaglio printmaking.

It is a good book for techniques and recipes of intaglio printmakig. Recommended.

Good condition and arrived on time. Had loaned this book already from the library so knew it's what I wanted.

A book I return to again and again. Easy to read, detailed and helpful

Very good.

very comprehensive with a wide range of advice

The photos greatly assist the techniques