After printing intaglio a number of times, the artist creating this image anticipates some effects he may want that would be simpler if the light image, the hand-made dog in the upper part, were raised slightly above the level of the rest--the dark printing parts--of the plate.

The printing press exerts hundreds of pounds of pressure on the plate, so if there is a thin, flat profile adhered to the back when the plate goes through the press, it will have a debossing effect. The metal surface will be raised up. You might think of it as the "Princess and the pea" effect, from the story of the princess who thought her mattress was lumpy just because a dried pea was hidden under it.

In the picture below, you can see the process this artist uses. He cuts an image in plastic or paper, traced from the printing side. He tapes it to the back, perfectly aligned with the image on the other side. He then applies a self-adhesive metal tape and cuts it to fit the design. The next time the plate goes through the press, it will deboss.

This pictures shows the lead foil tape (1) the artist likes to use. He puts strips into the shape he cut (2) following the printing image from the other side. Mylar (3) is his favorite tracing and cutting material. The copper plate (4) is upside down in this picture.

This continues the plate making process. If you want to view the beginning of the process, you may back-track using the go back buttons. View other stages by selecting highlighted key words and images, below. To go back to the first step, the opening page, select here.

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	Artist's Diary	The artist provides the vision and imagery of the living print, laboring after the compelling image.
	Curator's Log	The curator is seldom seen but is always seeing to it that the living prints' records are correct and rules followed.
	Printer's Notes	The printer performs many tasks to keep prints alive, crafting and designing solutions to problems the artist, curator and publisher propose.
	Publisher's Journal	The publisher produces the bases for living prints by supporting all the players and keeping communications clear and on course.
	Professor's Papers	The professor explains the living print, the history of printmaking, and keeps the academic community informed.

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