Mezzotint

From Italian "mezzo" (half) and "tinto" (toned), also called mezzotint engraving or "English Manner". A special form of the copper engraving that uses copper plates. The entire surface of the plate is roughed with a special tool, the Mezzotint rocker. The resulting deep recesses later absorb the ink. The printout of the prepared plate would be dark and velvety. A drawing consisting of only a few lines is now transferred onto the copper plate with carbon paper. Grey, light and white areas on the drawing are polished on the plate's surface, thus absorbing only small amounts of ink. Lines can only be produced by further preparing the plate with the tool. The completed plate is then dipped in ink with the recesses absorbing the ink and later transferring in onto the paper.