Varnishes are used in etching to protect the plate from biting.
Scraper: this tool makes it possible to work on lights, greys and whites, as well as removing burrs cut by the burin.(See basic knowledge : Printmaking: Basic Concepts)
It is mainly used in the mezzotint technique. Rocker: the cutting edge of this tool is made up of tiny sharp points, making it possible to carry out prolonged work on the plate with back-and-forth movements, so as to obtain dead black during printing.The resulting furrow makes it possible to create clear, accurate lines during inking, which is not the case with the drypoint. Burin: a steel tool with a lozenge-shaped point that is very sharp and removes chips of metal.The line is characteristic, if you look through a magnifying glass, you will see the metal burr. Drypoint: a steel point that is more resilient than the metal to be engraved, which scratches the copper plate and embosses the metal.Tools are mainly used for direct engraving of the metal. You can contact a private or collective workshop to request access to a press. You need a considerable budget to purchase a press that will produce good quality prints. The oldest presses, in cast iron, are very effective but their heavy weight means they are difficult to move. The press is the essential tool for printing engravings. Don't hesitate to choose good quality tools, even for first use! The following list will provide you with some basic references so that you can make your first purchases with an easy mind. The material will not be the same for etching as for line engraving.