Traditionally, the photo etching process required coating a copper plate with a photosensitive emulsion, exposing a negative image onto the plate under UV light, and then etching the plate using various hazardous acids. Nowadays, the copper plate is replaced with a light-sensitive polymer plate. This modern process allows a positive image to be printed directly onto the plate and etched using nothing but water. The plate, bearing the etched image, is then inked and printed in the same way as intaglio printmakers have done for centuries.

Photopolymer Etching

Black and white photograph of five leafless trees in a foggy landscape with a dark foreground.
A dark, blurry, black-and-white photo of a rural street with a house on the left, trees on the right, and a fence along the sidewalk, with an overcast sky.
Black and white photograph of old European-style buildings with a dramatic, cloudy sky above.
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A black and white close-up photo of a person's face, nose, and glasses with a textured, grainy effect.
Black and white photo of a person holding a camera, taking a picture.
A blurred, black-and-white photo of a person standing in front of a window, with reflections of city lights on the glass. The person appears to be wearing dark clothing with a hood, with a shadowy silhouette.
A blurred black and white photo of a dog walking on a textured ground surface.
A black and white photo of a flower with wilted petals in a vase on a table, with a cracked wall in the background.
Black and white photograph of a person's torso, showing their hand resting against their thigh, with visible veins and wrinkles on the hand.
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A black and white photograph of a leafless, gnarled tree standing on a small island in a body of water, with reflections of the tree visible on the water's surface, and a foggy, moody sky in the background.
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Black and white close-up photo of a man and woman with their foreheads and noses touching, eyes closed, sharing an intimate moment.
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Black and white close-up of a woman's face, showing her lips and nose, with lips slightly pursed.
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