The technique of aquatint is used for obtaining tonal areas on a print. It is etching into the plate hundreds of tiny pits which give the effect of tonality. The effect is similar to that found in newspaper illustrations. A very fine dust of either resin or bitumen is sprinkled on the clean plate. When heated, this dust melts and becomes fixed to the plate and can resist acid. When the plate is etched only the bare metal areas around each resin or bitumen particle is etched. Powdered resin gives the finest results and can be bought in clear lump form and ground finely wit a mortar and pestle before use. Powdered bitumen or Syrian apheltum produces a coarser grain, but it is easier to see on the plate because of its darker colour.

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