A form of etching, aquatint is so called because of its ability to produce a range of tones reminiscent of watercolor washes. A copper plate is sprinkled with powdered rosin, then heated to adhere the rosin to the plate. The melted rosin serves as an acid-resistant ground wherever it has adhered. In the acid bath the areas around the rosin grains are etched, leaving more or less fine dots according to the size of the grains. The inked plate will produce light or darker textures depending on the strength and duration of the acid bath.
You can see this technique in the works of Érik Desmazières, Joseph Goldyne and Friedrich Meckseper
AQUATINT
