drypoint
OAB Definition
intaglio printmaking process, and resulting print, in which incisions are made in a metal plate, typically copper, with a sharp, pointed, needle-like instrument. The technique raises a burr which holds the ink. Because the raised burr is soft and susceptible to compression through the press, drypoint editions are usually small. Blemishes may be eradicated with a scraper and burnishing tool. To achieve a broader, shaded area, a mezzotint rocker is used to abrade the plate in a cross-hatched pattern. Drypoint is often combined with other intaglio techniques.
Contemporary and emerging artists who may not have access to traditional resources often use a Plexiglas plate.