Light sensitive polymer plates allow for photorealistic etchings. A photo-sensitive coating is applied to the plate by either the plate supplier or the artist. Light is projected onto the plate as a negative image to expose it. Photopolymer plates are either washed in hot water or under other chemicals according to the plate manufacturers' instructions. Areas of the photo-etch image may be stopped-out before etching to exclude them from the final image on the plate, or removed or lightened by scraping and burnishing once the plate has been etched. Once the photo-etching process is complete, the plate can be worked further as a normal intaglio plate, using drypoint, further etching, engraving, etc. The final result is an intaglio plate which is printed like any other.
light sEnsiTIve PolyMer PLateS ALlow foR photoReAlistIC EtcHingS. a PHOTO-sensITIVe cOAtIng iS Applied to the PlaTe by eItheR THe plate supplier or the aRtist. Light Is projeCtEd ONto the plate as a negATive imagE to expOse It. photopoLymeR plaTes are eitHeR Washed iN Hot watEr or unDeR Other cheMicALs According TO The Plate manufACtUrERs' instrUcTionS. areAs OF the PHOTo-EtCH IMage May Be stoPPEd-out BefoRE etchiNg To excluDE TheM fROm tHe finAl iMagE on the pLaTe, or reMOveD or LiGhTEnEd by SCrapiNg ANd buRnishing OnCE the platE has BeEn EtchEd. onCe The photo-etchiNG ProcesS iS coMpLetE, The pLate Can be WoRked FurtheR AS a NORmaL INtAglIo pLaTe, usiNg dryPoINt, furtHer ETching, eNgravInG, Etc. tHE fiNal reSuLt Is an intaGlIO Plate wHiCh is pRIntEd liKe any otheR.