Etchings are handmade images that rely on the skill of the artist to embed grooves and scratches into the chosen plate so they will hold the ink. This requires creative skill and technical knowledge to employ acid and mark-making tools to create the desired image.
But that is only half of the story. Once the plate is created, it needs to be covered in ink. This is then wiped back using a cloth called scrim, plus materials like tissue paper, newspaper and even the hand, to leave ink in the grooves and troughs. How much ink is removed and how much the pate is polished to create lighter areas is all part of the process of creating the image and is controlled by the artist. It means each print is subtly different from another and results in a unique work.