Soft ground is only partially acid resistant. I use soft ground to transfer fabric patters to the plate. It can also be used to create soft lines. I have not tried it, but apparently this is done by putting a piece a paper on the plate and drawing on the paper. This will push a line into the soft ground. You can also "push" fabric patterns into the ground and transfer it to the plate.

Soft ground comes in liquid and ball form and can be applied using the method referenced on this site. Try and keep the application of the ground thin and uniform.

Working with Etching Soft Ground: Pick a piece of textured fabric. The texture should be somewhat pronounced.

Use a clean plate with the fabric on top to adjust the pressure of your press. You want it to press the fabric texture into the soft ground - "medium pressure" - not as tight as when printing. Different thickness of fabric will require seperate press adjustments.

Cut fabric if neccessary, put it on area of plate you want the texture on, and run through the press. Put a piece of paper on top so as not to get soft ground on your felts.

Stop out the areas you dont want the texture to appear on. Remember them edges! When dry put the plate in the acid bath. The longer you expose the area to acid, the darker it will print.

It took me a lot of experimenting until I got comfortable with soft ground. Don't get frustrated! Uncle Wretch is here to help. Pictures hopefully coming soon; right now, I don't have any.

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