Things to do · Arts and crafts
Make your first etching
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In etching the image is bitten into a zinc or copper plate with a mordant, then the plate is inked and printed on paper with an etching press. Drypoint skips the mordant and scratches the line straight into the plate, so a one-day workshop can send you home with prints.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650An afternoonIndoorsWith othersUK and US
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What it's really like
Drypoint is the quickest way in. City Lit describes it as cutting grooves into a solid surface to make a drawn line, then printing with intaglio inking; its one-day workshop is open to all levels, though some drawing experience is preferred.
Etching takes longer because the plate is bitten in a mordant. City Lit's etching workshop uses zinc plates to build line, texture and tone and prints in monochrome and colour. Edinburgh Printmakers' weekend course has you work two 152 x 203mm (6 x 8in) plates, one image on each.
Many studios have moved away from strong acids and solvents. Edinburgh Printmakers uses newer acid resists that it calls a healthier process, and Dunedin Fine Art Center teaches non-acid etching on copper with ferric chloride.
What beginners pay
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| City Lit, London | Drypoint and intaglio printmaking in a day, from 2 March 2027 | £149 |
| City Lit, London | Etching workshop on zinc plates, Tuesday evenings from 17 November 2026 | £229, or £183 senior and £149 concession |
| Edinburgh Printmakers | Two-day etching weekend, 10am to 5.30pm; includes three months' associate studio membership | £187 to £220 |
| Indianapolis Art Center | Intro to intaglio: drypoint, etching and basic collagraph, Wednesdays from 14 October to 25 November 2026 | $376 (members pay less) |
| Dunedin Fine Art Center, Florida | Six weekly three-hour morning classes in non-acid etching on copper | $215, plus a $25 lab fee |
| Manhattan Graphics Center, New York | Weekly intaglio class covering etching, drypoint, aquatint and grounds, with 30 hours of open studio time | $680 |
The Edinburgh weekend listed here was for May 2026 and the Manhattan Graphics Center class has ended; check each studio for its next dates.
How to start
- Pick a format: a one-day drypoint workshop, a weekend etching course, or a weekly class at a print studio or art centre.
- Check whether you need any drawing experience; City Lit prefers some for its drypoint day, and Dunedin Fine Art Center asks for basic drawing ability.
- Wear cotton clothes and closed-toe shoes; Indianapolis Art Center asks students to wear cotton, long trousers and closed-toe shoes, with no sandals, shorts or synthetics.
Where to go
- City Lit: beginners' etching, drypoint and intaglio courses (London) UK
- Edinburgh Printmakers: Etching Weekend Course UK
- Indianapolis Art Center: Intro to Intaglio Printmaking, all levels US
- Dunedin Fine Art Center: Beginner Intaglio Etching (Florida) US
We opened these links on 8 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between etching and drypoint?
In drypoint you scratch the line straight into the plate. In etching the line is bitten into a metal plate by a mordant; both are printed by intaglio inking.
Is etching dangerous?
It uses mordants, but many studios now use safer methods. Edinburgh Printmakers uses acid resists without dangerous acids or solvents, and Dunedin Fine Art Center etches copper with ferric chloride rather than acid.
Do I need drawing experience for an etching class?
It helps. City Lit prefers some drawing experience for its drypoint day, and Dunedin Fine Art Center asks for a drawing class or basic drawing ability, but no printmaking experience.
Can I carry on printing after the course?
Some studios make it easy. Edinburgh Printmakers' weekend includes three months' associate membership for studio use, and Manhattan Graphics Center gives non-members 30 hours of open studio time with its class.
Where this comes from: City Lit, Etching, intaglio and lithography courses for beginners; Edinburgh Printmakers, Etching Weekend Course; Indianapolis Art Center, Intro to Intaglio Printmaking, All Levels (ACTIVE listing); Dunedin Fine Art Center, PR504 Beginner Intaglio Etching; Manhattan Graphics Center, Wednesday Intaglio / Etching with Vijay; New York Teacher (UFT), Etching is her passion (9 September 2021). Opened 8 November 2026.
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