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A greasy material is used to make a drawing on a zinc plate or limestone block. The plate is then wet and a greasy ink is applied to it. The ink sticks only to the lines that have been drawn. A moist paper is applied to the plate and a special press is used to rub the paper all over to make a print or a lithograph.

Laxma Goud engraving on Zinc sheet with a sharp tool

Etching involves the use of an acid for creating a design on a metal plate. With the aid of a sharp tool the design is engraved through a coating which resists acid. The metal beneath is exposed in these engraved grooves.

Such a plate (usually zinc plate) is then immersed in an acid bath. The acid affects only those marks creating the required designs. The depth of the lines is directly proportional to the duration of time for which the plate remains immersed in the acid. If a certain part of the design needs to be emphasized, the process can be repeated for those parts. The rest of the space which is to be protected from the acid is coated with varnish.

Thota Vaikuntam in his studio