Steel-plates were used for engraving very fine work, or when large numbers of copies were required to be printed from the plate. Any advantage over copper which steel formerly possessed is now neutralised by the process known as steel facing, that is, coating the copper plate with an electro deposit of iron.
Copper-plate printing, as it is termed, though giving the most perfect result, is slow and tedious, and necessarily costly. A much speedier method of printing—by Lithography—is now much used instead, transfers from the engraved plate being put on the lithographic stone and printed therefrom, the original plate being retained intact. [(See examples under Lithography)].
Two Etchings on Copper by Bewick, reproduced by process block.
From the collection of W. H. K. Wright.
Some early examples of etched plates are given. The [urn design of Charles Bragge], [Armorial Landscape], and [Bewickian Landscape] show the character and handling of etched work as distinguished from line engraving. Other examples illustrate the combination of Line, Etching, and Machine Ruling work.
3.—SOFT-GROUND ETCHING.
A very charming style of work which was much used by Bartolozzi and other engravers of his time, but now gone entirely out of use. A suitable book-plate engraved in this manner not turning up in time, the present fine example of the style was selected to illustrate the character of the work, which bears a close resemblance to a chalk drawing, and on that account offers considerable difficulties in the way of reproduction by the half-tone process. The result is, however, successful in a remarkable degree in translating the peculiar texture of the original.
