398. Etching Paste Will Not Reduce

Etching Paste Will Not Reduce. (a) If the etching paste will not reduce, the trouble lies in the paste. It must be made from vaseline, and not regular oil. If the latter is employed the pumice-stone will not remain evenly distributed, and there will be times when you will be attempting to reduce a surface with only the oil. The pumice-stone must be uniformly distributed throughout the oil, and it is for this reason that vaseline is the best medium to employ if you make the reducing paste yourself. (b) As the reduction is somewhat slow, yet very uniform, you may at first think that the paste is not reducing the density. Continued application, however, will show you that it is reducing and producing an extremely even effect. In using the reducing paste, as well as in etching with the knife, you must not expect to reduce the density of a spot to any perceptible degree with one or two rubs or strokes. Only continued application will result in uniform effects.

399. When Removing Fine Lines The Surrounding Tint Is Reduced

When Removing Fine Lines The Surrounding Tint Is Reduced. You should not use the reducing paste for etching away fine lines. In fact, the point of the etcher will be found the most useful for this kind of work. If the reducing paste or the broad part of the knife is employed for erasing fine lines, there will be danger of your reducing portions which should not be touched.

400. Cannot Reduce Broad Surfaces

Cannot Reduce Broad Surfaces. If you find difficulty in uniformly reducing small areas the trouble will be due to your not having the etcher properly sharpened; or you are trying to etch away too much in one stroke. Uniform reduction is secured only

by careful work, gradually shaving with a perfectly sharp etching knife.

401. Removing Objectionable Ears

Removing Objectionable Ears. The highest point of light should be reduced first, and then the balance of the ear. Of course, only those ears should be removed which give an objectionable outline. In reducing them you substitute in their place the regular background which surrounds the balance of the subject. The outline of the face should be carefully curved and every attempt made to beautify this part of the portrait. Be very careful not to work on the transparent parts of the ear, for they may be already too transparent, and, if such is the case, will require to be built up with the pencil.

402. Shaping The Jaw

Shaping The Jaw. The first step in shaping the jaw is to outline it with either the point of the etcher or with the pencil. Having previously made a proof-print from the negative, and, with a pencil, outlined the jaw on the print as you want it, then copy these outlines on the plate with the etcher. Next, very carefully shave away the parts outside of this outline and reduce them sufficiently to produce a perfectly natural background effect. The negative should be proofed when you think you have reduced it sufficiently. Any necessary change should then be made, and the edge of the face very carefully blended so that it will not appear harsh or abrupt. After etching away these parts, some little work with the pencil may be required to even them up nicely; in fact, almost all etched portions require some penciling.