The INSTANT BLACK GROUND is the modern version of the traditional SATIN BLACK GROUND and possess the same superior characteristics with the added advantage that it requires no smoking or blackening after the ground is applied as a blackening pigment is incorporated into the formula. This ground dries rapidly and is ready for working as soon as it is dry. It is an excellent medium both for primary grounding of the plate and for regrounding a previously etched plate for the purpose of adding additional work.

Solvents to remove the ground: Turpentine, benzine, mineral spirits, VCA's, like AIII and Geowash K

Dimensions: diameter 5cm (2"), height 12 cm (5"). Weight 0,2 kg (0.45 lb)
The bottle is provided with a safety cap.

The INSTANT BLACK GROUND is the modern version of the traditional SATIN BLACK GROUND and possess the same superior characteristics with the added advantage that it requires no smoking or blackening after the ground is applied as a blackening pigment is incorporated into the formula. This ground dries rapidly and is ready for working as soon as it is dry. It is an excellent medium both for primary grounding of the plate and for regrounding a previously etched plate for the purpose of adding additional work.

Solvents to remove the ground: Turpentine, benzine, mineral spirits, VCA's, like AIII and Geowash K

Dimensions: diameter 6 cm (2.4"), height 15 cm (6"). Weight 0,4 kg (0.9 lb)
The bottle is provided with a safety cap.

This is a superior liquid hard ground for etching. It is applied with a flat soft brush. After the plate has been smoked it presents a satin black surface which is easily drawn upon, responding to the most intricate and finely detailed needling with no risk of flaking or foul biting.

Solvents to remove the ground: Turpentine, benzine, mineral spirits, VCA's, like AIII and Geowash K

Dimensions: diameter 5cm (2"), height 12 cm (5"). Weight 0,2 kg (0.45 lb)
The bottle is provided with a safety cap.

This is a superior liquid hard ground for etching. It is applied with a flat soft brush. After the plate has been smoked it presents a satin black surface which is easily drawn upon, responding to the most intricate and finely detailed needling with no risk of flaking or foul biting.

Solvents to remove the ground: Turpentine, benzine, mineral spirits, VCA's, like AIII and Geowash K

Dimensions: diameter 6 cm (2.4"), height 15 cm (6"). Weight 0,4 kg (0.9 lb)
The bottle is provided with a safety cap.

This is a superior liquid hard ground for etching. It is applied with a flat soft brush. After the plate has been smoked it presents a satin black surface which is easily drawn upon, responding to the most intricate and finely detailed needling with no risk of flaking or foul biting.

Solvents to remove the ground: Turpentine, benzine, mineral spirits, VCA's, like AIII and Geowash K

Dimensions: diameter 10 cm (4"), height 22 cm (8.7"). Weight 1,4 kg (3 lb)
The bottle is provided with a safety cap.

This another traditional product which, as its name implies, is used in very thin coats as a retouching varnish and as a covering varnish. It is highly recommended for use in the aquatint technique to obtain shadings of tone and to maintain blank, unteched passages on the plate. It is rapid drying.

Solvents to remove the ground: Turpentine, benzine, mineral spirits, VCA's, like AIII and Geowash K

Dimensions: diameter 5cm (2"), height 12 cm (5"). Weight 0,2 kg (0.45 lb)
The bottle is provided with a safety cap.

This another traditional product which, as its name implies, is used in very thin coats as a retouching varnish and as a covering varnish. It is highly recommended for use in the aquatint technique to obtain shadings of tone and to maintain blank, unteched passages on the plate. It is rapid drying.

Solvents to remove the ground: Turpentine, benzine, mineral spirits, VCA's, like AIII and Geowash K

Dimensions: diameter 6 cm (2.4"), height 15 cm (6"). Weight 0,4 kg (0.9 lb)
The bottle is provided with a safety cap.

This varnish is a new and exclusive product of the ARTOOLS line. It forms a very tough, protective coating for the backs and borders of plates. It is highly resistant to acid, heat and additional scratching of the plate's back surface. It also serves as an excellent stop out varnish as well. This protecting and aquatint hard ground used with an air-brush brings astonishing results in "liquid aquatint". It dries well, and allows remarquable nuancing. The most diluted applications become extremely pastelmanner mezzotint, while thick applications result in perfect whites.

Solvent to remove the ground: Ethyl alcohol

Dimensions: diameter 5cm (2"), height 12 cm (5"). Weight 0,2 kg (0.45 lb)
The bottle is provided with a safety cap.

This varnish is a new and exclusive product of the ARTOOLS line. It forms a very tough, protective coating for the backs and borders of plates. It is highly resistant to acid, heat and additional scratching of the plate's back surface. It also serves as an excellent stop out varnish as well. This protecting and aquatint hard ground used with an air-brush brings astonishing results in "liquid aquatint". It dries well, and allows remarquable nuancing. The most diluted applications become extremely pastelmanner mezzotint, while thick applications result in perfect whites.

Solvent to remove the ground: Ethyl alcohol

Dimensions: diameter 6 cm (2.4"), height 15 cm (6"). Weight 0,4 kg (0.9 lb)
The bottle is provided with a safety cap.

This varnish is a new and exclusive product of the ARTOOLS line. It forms a very tough, protective coating for the backs and borders of plates. It is highly resistant to acid, heat and additional scratching of the plate's back surface. It also serves as an excellent stop out varnish as well. This protecting and aquatint hard ground used with an air-brush brings astonishing results in "liquid aquatint". It dries well, and allows remarquable nuancing. The most diluted applications become extremely pastelmanner mezzotint, while thick applications result in perfect whites.

Solvent to remove the ground: Ethyl alcohol

Dimensions: diameter 10 cm (4"), height 22 cm (8.7"). Weight 1,4 kg (3 lb)
The bottle is provided with a safety cap.

The solvent-absorptive action of the SOLVENT LIFT GROUND may be used to remove selected areas of hard ground, expose the bare metal and to allow for aquatinting (or other working) of those areas without removing the ground from the entire plate.
It works equally well on a plate which has been grounded with traditional ball or liquid ground and is especially suited for use with our SATIN BLACK GROUND and our new INSTANT BLACK GROUND. Areas to be removed are painted with the SOLVENT LIFT GROUND and allowed to rest for a few minutes. They are then gently rubbed with a soft rag or cotton pellet. This exposes the metal as drawn.

Solvents to remove the ground: Turpentine, benzine, mineral spirits, VCA's, like AIII and Geowash K

Dimensions: diameter 5cm (2"), height 12 cm (5"). Weight 0,2 kg (0.45 lb)

Another old time product for a new technique.
This is a sugar-lift ink solution with superior lifting characteristics in its formulation.
The artist may draw directly on the well cleaned and bare metal plate using a pen or a brush. As soon as the soluble ink has dried to the touch, the entire plate is covered with SATIN BLACK GROUND or INSTANT BLACK GROUND.
When the LIQUID BLACK GROUND has dried, the plate is held under a running warm water faucet or allowed to rest for a few minutes in a tray of warm water.
The original drawing beneath will lift cleanly, exposing the bare metal exactly as drawn. The plate is then ready for the normal etching steps or for the aquatint process.

Solvent: Lukewarm water

Dimensions: diameter 5cm (2"), height 12 cm (5"). Weight 0,2 kg (0.45 lb)
The bottle is provided with a safety cap.

Another old time product for a new technique.
This is a sugar-lift ink solution with superior lifting characteristics in its formulation.
The artist may draw directly on the well cleaned and bare metal plate using a pen or a brush. As soon as the soluble ink has dried to the touch, the entire plate is covered with SATIN BLACK GROUND or INSTANT BLACK GROUND.
When the LIQUID BLACK GROUND has dried, the plate is held under a running warm water faucet or allowed to rest for a few minutes in a tray of warm water.
The original drawing beneath will lift cleanly, exposing the bare metal exactly as drawn. The plate is then ready for the normal etching steps or for the aquatint process.

Solvent: Lukewarm water

Dimensions: diameter 6 cm (2.4"), height 15 cm (6"). Weight 0,4 kg (0.9 lb)
The bottle is provided with a safety cap.