The varnish could be removed by heating the plate and wiping it with a linen cloth and rubbing with olive oil. Parallel lines for cross-hatching were most often made in this step of the process because too many lines scored in the varnish would have caused it to crack and flake off. At any stage in his work, Blake could print a proof of his work to see how it was progressing. If some lines had been engraved improperly, he could have removed with a three-sided tool called a scraper, followed by polishing with the burnisher. If the surface was then lower in that area, it could be forced up from behind with a ball-peen hammer or punch.
Intaglio ink is made by grinding pigments with burnt oil.
Burnt oil helped to make the ink tacky and stiffer than boiled oil. The ball, approximately 2.5 and 3 inches in diameter, was rubbed over the plate, and evenly pounded force would place the ink into even the smallest incision. Blake then heated the plate on a grate so the ink would flow more rapidly. Once this was done, Blake could reach from his stock of pre-soaked paper and prepare it and the plate in his press. I nstead of a rolling-press, it is believed Blake used a screw press or simply pressed paper to plate by hand.