My Etching Journey
 
I Would Love to Reproduce But.....
Sunday, March 29, 2009
deep etch
 
I got really cocky today and ran an electro-etch cycle for 3.5 hours at .6 amps and 2.5 volts.  There was NO breakdown of the laser toner resist - the smallest details held.
 
I did notice some interesting effects:
  1. 1.  The sanding “scratches” get amplified to create some interesting textural effects.
  2. 2.  A range of beautiful colors was left in a very pleasing pattern.
  3. 3.  The black toner creates a pleasing contrast.
 
Now, I can’t quite figure out why I get this nice “moire” effect.   My hypothesis is that the obvious zones of color are where the metal is etched to a different depth due to my working of the surface with the steel wool to different depths. The gold areas appear to be etched deepest followed by the gold, bronze and purple areas.
 
Or they are created due to imperfections in the copper plate. I don’t know why but it sure is pretty.
 
I have just confirmed, again, one of my criteria for “What is art?” - the result of an experiment.