A copper plate is polished, and fixed in a mixture of resin and beeswax by warming the wax and laying the copper plate on. All grease is removed with whiting, the surface of the copper coated with fine wax, and the pattern drawn with a fine etching needle passing through the wax to the copper. Nitric acid is then applied to the surface; this eats into the copper plate where pricked with the etching needle, the wax preventing the acid from biting in places not required. When sufficiently bitten in, the plate is removed, the wax warmed and pulled carefully off, and the plate cleaned with turpentine.