In order to train one­self to en­grave a tint as in the French por­trait, it is ex­cel­lent prac­tice to make par­al­lel {232} lines on a block with­out any draw­ing on it. Ta­king a tint tool, you en­grave a line on the wood, of any thick­ness, and then be­low it en­grave another line, leav­ing be­tween the two a ridge of wood the same thick­ness as your white lines. It is then your task to cover your

Practice block No. 1. The top four lines are engraved by an expert; the others, by a beginner, show normal progress from the coarse to the fine, but inability to engrave a perfectly straight line. It takes months of practice before one can engrave a series of straight lines.

piece of wood with parallel lines all of the same thickness, leaving a space between them, always of the same thickness.

This exercise may be varied after you can make an even tint by making a graduated tint, letting your white

Practice block No. 2. The line A is first outlined as at B. If the beginner makes a design in which lines like A may be used throughout, he is apt to get a better result than if he attempts a fine line like C (outlined as at D), which is very difficult to engrave. E represents a waved line.

lines be nearer and nearer together as you approach the base of the block. These print lighter than those at the top. {233}

Another variation is produced by waving the lines; and still another by crossing a tint with white lines. Cross-hatched black lines are very tedious to engrave—we give an example of some.