Technical Deep-Dives — printmaking
Copper Plates for Intaglio Printmaking
copper plate history intaglio printmaking printmaking materials
With its favorable workability and longevity, copper has become the natural choice for professional and amateur printmakers. Despite its popularity, there is little specific information available to the modern printmaker on its composition and mechanical properties. This article will look briefly at the history of the copper matrix, the mining, refinement and processing of copper, and how its microstructure and mechanical properties affect its use as a matrix.