Patent Publication Number: US-8539879-B2

Title: Devices and methods for printmaking on canvas

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/840,052, filed on Jul. 20, 2010, now abandoned which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C.§ of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/352,734, filed Jun. 8, 2010, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to be considered part of this specification. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to printmaking. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatuses used for printmaking on heavy fabric media. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In the art world, intaglio generally refers to a number of techniques that create an image by cutting, carving or engraving the image into a flat surface of a plate or matrix. The plate typically is a copper or zinc plate. The image can be created in the plate by any of a variety of techniques, such as etching, engraving, drypoint, aquatint, stipple, mezzotint, embossing, monotype, and certain forms of plate lithography. The image created in the plate comprises grooves and other voids that are filled with ink. 
     The paper media then is pressed against the plate. The paper media picks up the ink from the grooves during a pressing process. The pressing process also results in a tactile image being formed in that the paper media physically reflects the grooves and voids from the plate. Further, the physical outline of the plate also is transferred to the paper. Thus, following the pressing process, the paper media maintains an outer plate line, an artistic surface relief pattern and the transferred ink image. 
     SUMMARY 
     Intaglio, however, has been limited to paper and, as such, is a paper-based art technique. Many other art forms, such as painting, take advantage of some of the characteristics of heavy fabrics, such as canvas. Unfortunately, canvas is too heavy of a material for conventional intaglio and the canvas does not take and retain the shapes from the underlying plate using normal intaglio techniques. Accordingly, there is a need for apparatus, systems, and methods that can create intaglio prints on canvas. In addition, many of the techniques also can be used for other forms of printmaking. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, embodiments, and advantages of the present invention will now be described in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention, in reference to the accompanying drawings. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an etching press that is arranged and configured in accordance with certain features, aspects and advantages of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a press bed usable with the etching press of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a stack of blankets usable with the press bed of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of a printing plate with an image for creation of an intaglio print; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the printing plate with the image taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a simplified top view of an assembly of diapering materials, printing plate and heavy fabric prior to a printing operation. 
         FIG. 7  is a simplified top view of artwork following the printing operation. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow-chart relating to a process of preparing the artwork shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an etching press  10  that is arranged and configured in accordance with certain features aspects and advantages of the present invention. While the illustrated etching press  10  is a modified Blick® 906 Etching Press available from Dick Blick Art Materials, other suitable etching press configurations also can be used. Preferably, the etching press  10  is a large, heavy duty, manually-controlled press. The illustrated etching press  10  has been modified in manners that will be explained below. The modifications, in part, enable the etching press  10  to create prints in heavy fabric materials. 
     The illustrated etching press  10  comprises a frame assembly  12 . The frame assembly  12  can have any suitable configuration. In the illustrated configuration, the frame assembly comprises aluminum side castings  14 . The side castings  14  can be secured together with multiple connecting rods  16 . In the illustrated configuration, outer connecting rods  16  are positioned at each lateral end of the side castings  14  and an intermediate connecting rod (not shown) is positioned between the outer connecting rods  16 . In the illustrated configuration, threaded fasteners  18  can be used to secure the connecting rods  16  in position relative to the side castings  14 . Other configurations are possible. 
     The frame assembly  12  supports an upper roller  20  and a lower roller  22 . The upper roller  20  and the lower roller  22  are supported by suitable bearing configurations and each of the upper roller  20  and the lower roller  22  generally extends between the side castings  14 . The illustrated upper roller  20  comprises a 4 inch diameter, lathe-turned steel roll, which is generally non-collapsible. The illustrated lower roller  22  comprises a 2 inch diameter, solid lathe-turned steel roll. Other sizes and configurations can be used. 
     A handwheel  24  connects to a gear train (not shown) that drives the lower roller  22 . The handwheel  24  can comprise three points, or handles, such as the illustrated embodiment, or can comprise any other suitable configuration. The gear train (not shown) is positioned within a housing  26  and, in some embodiments, the gear train can provide about a 2.65:1 gear ratio. Other gear ratios also can be used. Rotation of the handwheel  24  results in direct drive movement of the lower roller  22 . Thus, movement of the lower roller  22  is directly controlled by rotation of the handwheel  24 . Fast rotation of the handwheel  24  results in fast movement of the lower roller  22  and slow rotation of the handwheel  24  results in slow movement of the lower roller  22 . 
     The upper roller  20  is generally vertically translatable relative to the side castings  14  while the lower roller  22  is generally vertically fixed relative to the side castings  14 . Thus, the upper roller  20  can be moved toward and away from the lower roller  22 . In the illustrated configuration, the position of the upper roller  20  relative to the lower roller  22  (i.e., the spacing between the upper roller  20  and the lower roller  22 ) can be adjusted using two calibrated pressure adjusters  30 . In the illustrated configuration, each of the pressure adjusters  30  comprises a sliding T-handle  32  that can be turned to move the upper roller  20  up and down relative to the lower roller  22 . In some embodiments, clearance between the upper roller  20  and the lower roller  22  can be as much as 2 inches or more. 
     Movement of the upper roller  20  can be monitored using gauges  34  (one shown) that are mounted to the side castings  14  and that show movement using the pressure adjusters  30 . Movement of the upper roller  20  changes a pressure applied between the upper roller  20  and the lower roller  22 . The gauges  34  allow a user to see a representation of how much pressure is being applied by the upper roller  20  and the lower roller  22 . In some configurations, the gauges provide a scale in 1/16&#39;s of an inch. Other configurations also can be used. 
     A press bed  36  can be supported by the connecting rods  16  and passes between the upper roller  20  and the lower roller  22 . Preferably, the press bed  36  is supported by the connecting rods  16  at the outer extremes of the frame assembly  12  and by the lower roller  22  in a more central portion of the frame assembly  12 . With the press bed  36  supported on the lower roller  22 , movement of the lower roller  22  controls movement of the press bed  36 . Thus, movement of the handwheel  24  results in movement of the press bed  36 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the illustrated press bed  36  preferably comprises a body  40  that comprises a pressed wood construction. In some configurations, the press bed  36  also comprises a laminate top  42 . Previous press beds were formed of steel, composite or phenolic materials. As such, the press beds were not capable of bending, compressing or deforming. In other words, the prior press beds were generally non-compliant, non-compressible and had a thin construction, which occupied very little of the distance available between the upper roller  20  and the lower roller  22   
     The illustrated press bed  36  accommodates high pressure loads due to the compressibility of the pressed wood construction of the body  40 . While the illustrated configuration comprises the pressed wood body  40  with the laminate top  42 , other types of engineered products also can be used keeping in mind the desire for compressibility in the press bed  36  while also providing a smooth supporting top  42 . 
     Preferably, the body  40  of the press bed  36  comprises an engineered wood product that is made out of wood fibers and, in some embodiments, can comprise particle board or medium-density fiberboard. The engineered wood product can comprise resins that hold the wood product together and can comprise any of a number of cellulosic fiber insulating boards. More preferably, the press bed  36  comprises at least one surface (e.g., the top  42 ) that is covered with a skin, such as a polyvinyl chloride or the like. The skin  42  provides a smooth support surface while the body  40  provides a relatively softer portion that can deform under significant loads (e.g., 300 psi or more) applied by the upper roller  20  and the lower roller  22 . The ability of the body  40  to deform in compression provides protection to the other components of the etching press  10  and the components used to form the artwork because the body  40  provides some compliance in an otherwise generally noncompliant system. 
     With reference again to  FIG. 1 , the press bed  36  comprises a top surface  44 , a bottom surface  46 , a leading edge  48 , a trailing edge  50 , a first side edge  52 , and a second side edge  54 . In the illustrated configuration, the bottom surface  46  of the press bed rests atop the lower roller  22  and the upper surface  44  faces the upper roller  20 . The press bed  36  can have any suitable size. In the illustrated configuration, the press bed  36  has a width W of about 12.75 inches and a length L of about 26 inches or 36 inches. The illustrated press bed  36  has a thickness T of about 1 inch. The thickness T can be varied depending upon the press and the available separation between the rollers. The width W can be defined as a distance between the first side edge  52  and the second side edge  54 . The length L can be defined as a distance between the leading edge  48  and the trailing edge  50 . The thickness T can be defined as a distance between the top surface  44  and the bottom surface  46 . The illustrated press bed  36  accommodates print sizes of about 12 inches wide by about 24 inches or 34 inches long. Other dimensions for the press bed  36  also can be used. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , in the illustrated configuration, the etching press  10  comprises at least three blankets: a catcher  60 ; a cushion  62 ; and a pusher  64 . The blankets  60 ,  62 ,  64  rest atop the top  42  of the press bed  36 . While three blankets  60 ,  62 ,  64  are shown, more blankets can be used or fewer blankets can be used. The blankets  60 ,  62 ,  64  generally equalize the pressure across the lengths of the rollers  20 ,  22  and lessen the strain on the rollers  20 ,  22 . Preferably, each of the blankets  60 ,  62 ,  64  is sized to completely cover the artwork being created. In most embodiments, the blankets  60 ,  62 ,  64  are sized so that they substantially cover the top surface  44  of the press bed  36  while not being large enough to impede movement of the press bed  36  through the rollers  20 ,  22 . 
     The catcher  60  is used to catch overflow of paints and inks during operation of the etching press  10 . In some embodiments, the catcher is about 1/16 inch thick. The cushion  62  can comprise a soft, dense wool felt material or the like and adds additional compliance on an upper portion of the assembly while the body  40  provides compliance on a lower portion of the assembly. In some embodiments, the cushion  62  can be about ¼ inch thick. The pusher  64  is used to push the assembly through the etching press  10  between the upper roller  20  and the lower roller  22 . In some embodiments the pusher  64  is about ⅛ inch thick. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a printing plate  70  usable with the etching press  10  of  FIG. 1 . With reference to  FIG. 8 , creating the printing plate is one of the first steps S- 1  in creating the print described herein. The printing plate  70  can be formed from any suitable material. In the illustrated configuration, the printing plate  70  is formed of acrylic. Traditionally, the printing plates are metal plates having a thickness of about 1/16 inch or about 0.064 inch. In particular, traditional printing plates were formed of softer metals, such as zinc or copper, for increased workability. Over time, the printing plates were formed from acrylic plates such that etching of the plates could be performed without caustic acids. The acrylic plates also had a thickness of about 1/16 inch or about 0.064 inch. These printing plates were used for intaglio or etching on paper. 
     Due to the pressures involved and the desire to transfer three-dimensional images to relatively less deformable heavy fabric materials, such as canvas, some embodiments of the present invention employ a thicker than normal printing plate  70 . The thicker printing plate  70  is less likely to fracture under the high pressure loads experienced and provides a thicker base material such that deeper recessed patterns can be formed within the base material without creating a hole in the printing plate  70 . In some embodiments, the printing plate  70  comprises a thickness of about ⅜ inch or more. The thicker printing plate  70 , however, is more likely to cause damage to an unmodified etching press and, therefore, one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention was unlikely to have selected a thicker printing plate for use in the formation of prints in a heavy fabric material. Any suitable size of printing plate can be used keeping in mind a desire to reduce the likelihood of cracking of the printing plate at pressures that may exceed about 300 psi and a countervailing desire to reduce the likelihood of compromising the expensive etching press  10 . 
     The printing plate  70  can have any suitable shape. In the illustrated configuration, the printing plate  70  has a generally rectangular configuration with a length l and a width w. Preferably, any corner  72  formed on the printing plate  70  is rounded. The rounded corners  72  reduce the likelihood of the printing plate  70  fracturing under load and also reduce the likelihood of the corners  72  of the printing plate  70  piercing or tearing the heavy fabric used during the printing process. 
     A thickness t of the printing plate  70  can be a distance from an etching surface  76  to a rear surface  78 . The etching surface  76  is the surface that will be used to transfer designs during a printing operation. As explained directly above, the thickness t of the illustrated printing plate  70  preferably is about ⅜ inch but can be larger or slightly smaller if desired. More preferably, the printing plate  70  has a thickness t of more than about 0.07 inch and less than about 0.5 inch. The length l of the printing plate  70  preferably is substantially less than the length L of the press bed  36  and the width w of the printing plate  70  preferably is substantially less than the width W of the press bed  36 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the printing plate  70  can receive a recessed design  74  in the etching surface  76 . The design also can be formed in any other suitable manner, such as by adding material to the printing plate  70  or by removing material from the printing plate  70 . By adding or removing material, the design can be formed as a surface relief feature. 
     Generally speaking, the recessed design  74  can be developed in any suitable manner. Once the recessed design  74  has been developed and sketched, the design can be scratched into the etching surface  76  of the printing plate  70  by laying the printing plate  70  atop of the sketch of the desired recessed design  74 . The recessed design  74  corresponds to a negative of a relief image desired to be formed on the final artwork. In other words, the relief and image formed on the final artwork will be reversed from the recessed design  74  formed within the printing plate  70 . For example, the relief in the image that will be formed at the end of printing will have the appearance of the image presented by the recess  74  when looking at the back surface of the printing plate  70  from the eye shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The recessed design  74  within the printing plate  70  can be formed using any suitable tools. For example, grooves and other forms of recessed design  74  can be formed using scrapers, knifes, sanders, dental tools, or any other tool that can be used to remove material. In some embodiments, traditional drypoint etching tools can be used, such as picks and other sharp or abrasive tools and materials. A printing plate may also be incised through the use of modern manufacturing and design techniques including CAD/Cam software and modern machinery. Any other suitable tool can be used keeping in mind the desire to remove materials from the printing plate  70  during formation of the recessed design  74 . The grooves and patterns of the recessed design  74  formed within the printing plate  70  are used to catch paint or other colorants used during formation of the artwork image. Moreover, the grooves and patterns of the recessed design  74  allow deformation of the heavy fabric into the recesses to pick up paint and colorants and to create a three-dimensional relief in the heavy fabric. Once the recessed design  74  has been transferred into the etching surface  76 , the printing plate  70  can be inspected for unwanted burs, blemishes or other imperfections. The burs, blemishes and imperfections can be polished away and then the printing plate  70  can be cleaned with a mild soap or the like. 
     Other embodiments can employ printing plates  70  without a recessed design  74  in order to be suitable for other printmaking techniques, such as monotype and collagraph printmaking, or with a combination of recessed design portions and non-recessed design portions. In some embodiments, the printing plate  70  can comprise a planographic surface suitable for monotype printmaking. The planographic surface of a printing plate  70  for use in monotype printing is substantially featureless and smooth with no incisions, protrusions, or etching. Paint, ink, another suitable printing medium, or any combination thereof can be applied to the surface of the printing plate  70  and transferred to the canvas. In monotype printmaking, the canvas can be imprinted with the shape of the outside of the plate such that some degree of relief is provided to the finished project. 
     In other embodiments, the printing plate  70  can comprise a raised surface suitable for collagraph printmaking, also known as collograph printmaking, for example but without limitation. In some configurations, portions of the plate can be removed such that a raised surface remains and defines a desired design structural element. In some configurations, a printing plate can be carved, built up out of multiple pieces, or otherwise formed to create a protruding design. For example, acrylic pieces can be formed into the desired design and secured together in any suitable manner, such as with epoxy for example but without limitation, to create the printing plate  70 . Other materials can be appropriate for creating a collagraph printing plate, such as wood, carborundum, metal, etc., or some combination thereof. The printing plate  70  and raised design can be made with a thickness and material sufficient to withstand the greater pressures needed to imprint heavy fabrics, such as canvas for example but without limitation. The raised design of the printing plate  70  can be inked with a roller or paintbrush, painted with a roller or paintbrush, or otherwise coated with a suitable printing medium or combination of mediums. For example, in collagraph printmaking, the canvas can be imprinted with the raised design of the printing plate  70 . 
     With reference again to  FIG. 8 , the heavy fabric  80  can be selected and prepared for printing early in the process. See S- 2 . The heavy fabric  80  can be a plain weave fabric formed from cotton, linen, jute, hemp or polyester. Preferably, the heavy fabric  80  is a cotton canvas. More preferably, the heavy fabric  80  is a heavy cotton duck canvas with a high thread count. Even more preferably, the heavy fabric  80  comprises Claessens linen rough texture (15 oz) oil-primed canvas. In some applications, the canvas may be double primed. Preferably, the heavy fabric  80  is a canvas material that has been double primed with an acrylic or acrylic-oil mixture. When priming, several light coats have been found desirable when compared to heavy coats. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 6 , the heavy fabric  80  comprises a length CL, a width CW, a front or print surface  84  (see  FIG. 7 ) and a rear or back surface  82 . As used herein, the front surface is the surface that will receive printing and will abut the etched surface  76  of the printing plate  70  during printing. The length CL of the heavy fabric  80  preferably is larger than the length l of the printing plate  70  and the width CW of the heavy fabric  80  preferably is larger than the width w of the printing plate  70 . In addition, the length CL of the heavy fabric  80  preferably is smaller than the length L of the press bed  36  while the width CW of the heavy fabric  80  preferably is smaller than the width W of the press bed  36 . 
     In some embodiments, a background image (not shown) can be applied to the print face the heavy fabric  80 . This background serves a primarily artistic function and thus comprises a variety of expression. The background can comprise an oil-based paint background. Preferably, the background is given sufficient time to fully dry. The background needs to be extremely dry because, under the extreme pressures involved, the background could stick to the printing plate  70  and peal off of the canvas if the background is not sufficiently dry. 
     Rather than ink, as is commonly used in etching and intaglio, certain aspects of the present invention relate to the use of paint in the place of ink. The inks would absorb into the paper for paper-based intaglio but, because the canvas is preferably primed, the ink could not sufficiently absorb into the canvas. In addition, due to the higher pressures involved relative to paper-based intaglio, ink tends to be displaced from regions of the printing plate  70  that contain the ink into regions of the printing plate  70  where the ink is not desired when making a heavy fabric material intaglio print. Thus, one aspect of the present invention involves the use of paints, such as heavy body paints, which give a thickened consistency relative to traditional ink. The thickened consistency helps the paint to stay in the grooves and recessed design  74  of the printing plate  70 . In addition, it is believed that the paints discussed herein provide better detail and more lifelike images. 
     Not all paints are available as heavy body paint. Any of a variety of oil-based paints can be used when modified. The oil-based paints can be modified with additives to make them heavier, to provide faster drying and to generate more of a film. For example, additives such as thickeners, drying agents and waxes can be added to the oil-based paints to form a suitable paint media. Examples of some additives that have been found to be acceptable include Gamblin Galkyd, Daniel Smith Painting Medium for Oils and Alkyds, Dorland&#39;s Wax Medium, Gamblin Cold Wax Medium, Liquiglaze Oil Medium, Golden Extra Heavy Gel and Golden Molding Paste. 
     A galkyd medium also can be added to the paint. In some embodiments, the oil paint is augmented with one drop of galkyd, which amounts to about 10% volume. In some configurations, a paint medium can be added to the paint to make the paint thicker, to help the paint to dry faster and to make the paint have more of a flexible film appearance. The painting medium is approximately 10% of volume. A cold wax medium also can be added into the paint to help generate a thick film that helps keep the paint within the grooves. The cold wax can be added to about 20-25% volume. In some embodiments, the additives can be added in the following proportions: twenty to twenty-five percent volume of the paint of a thickener, ten percent volume of the paint of a drying agent, and one percent volume of the paint of a finish enhancing additive. In preferred embodiments, Gamblin Cold Wax is used as the thickener, Daniel Smith Painting Medium is used as the drying agent, and Gamblin Galkyd is used as the finish enhancing additive. A person skilled in the art will, however, recognize that a variety of thickeners, drying agents, and finish enhancing additives may be used in addition to those specifically mentioned. It has been found that too much additive will cause the paint to crack and peel later and too little additive will reduce the ability of the paint to hold the plate line and three dimensional image on the canvas. The additives and the oil paint are mixed to prepare the printing medium. 
     With reference again to  FIG. 8 , once the printing medium is selected and prepared, it is then applied to the printing plate  42 . See S- 3 . The medium can be applied to the printing plate using a wide variety of techniques known in the art including painting, rolling, spraying, wiping or other methods. In preferred embodiments, media is applied to the printing plate  42  by painting as this enables more detailed application of color to the printing plate and presents the additional benefit of avoiding mess created by excess media on the printing plate. Painting allows for better details and more definition. Moreover, painting allows increased printing medium to be placed in regions of the etching where desired and allows limited or no printing medium to be placed in other regions of the etching. Multiple colors can be used where desired. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 8 , prior to printing, the heavy fabric  80  is wetted with fluid and prepared for printing. See S- 4 . The fluid can be water and the water can be applied to any desired surface of the heavy fabric  80  to soften and prepare the heavy fabric  80  for the printing operation. In some embodiments, the heavy fabric  80  can be sprayed with water on the front or print side and then can be placed on the back side  82  in a water bath. 
     Preferably, the water bath comprises a starch element or other stiffening agent. In some embodiments, the spray starch is Niagra® heavy spray starch available from Phoenix Brands. Other starches or fabric stiffening agents also can be used to create what is believed to be a permanent or semi-permanent plate line and plate image. In other words, the starch element helps the cloth material to set with the plate image and the plate line around the periphery of the plate and the starch element is believed to reduce the likelihood of the cloth material relaxing and losing the plate image and the plate line. 
     The water bath with the stiffening agent can be prepared by pouring liquid starch into the water bath or by spraying spray starch onto the starch bath to create a floating layer of starch on the surface of the water. The heavy fabric  80  then can be placed into the starch bath with the back side  82  down toward the starch layer such that the back side  82  of the heavy fabric  80  can absorb the water and starch. The heavy fabric  80  can be placed in the starch bath for about 5 seconds to about 15 seconds. 
     Excess water then may be removed from the canvas  36  by wiping, blotting, or any other suitable technique. For example, blotting of excess water can be performed using extra thick paper or the like. The heavy fabric  80  can be inserted between the heavy paper blotters to remove the excess water prior to carrying out the printing process. 
     Diapering material  90 , which can be comprised of tissue or newsprint, can be placed on top of the press bed  36 . In some embodiments, 8-10 layers of tissue can be placed on top of the press bed  36 . With reference to  FIG. 8 , the prepared print plate  70  and the prepared heavy fabric  80  then are mated together and placed on top of the diapering material  90 . See S- 5 . The heavy fabric  80  is placed with the background-containing print surface adjoining the painted etching surface  76  of the printing plate  70 . In some configurations, the positions of the printing plate  70  and the heavy fabric  80  can be reversed but the illustrated positioning is desired because it allows hand working following rolling in manners that will be discussed. In some embodiments, monotype printmaking techniques can be used, and the heavy fabric  80  can be placed with the background-containing print surface adjoining the painted flat surface of the printing plate  70 . In other embodiments, collagraph printmaking techniques can be used, and the heavy fabric  80  can be placed with the background-containing print surface adjoining the painted raised design surface of the printing plate  70 . 
     With the heavy fabric  80  and the printing plate  70  resting on the diapering material  90 , the diapering material  90  can be folded over the heavy fabric  80  and the printing plate  70  to form a diaper that generally envelopes the heavy fabric  80 . See S- 6  in  FIG. 8 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the diapering material  90  comprises a first lateral edge  92 , a second lateral edge  94 , a leading end  96  and a trailing end  98 . Preferably, the lateral edges  92 ,  94  of the diapering material  90  fold over the heavy fabric  80  and the leading end  96  of the tissue also can be folded over the previously folded portions of the diapering material  90 . Thus, the leading edge of the heavy fabric  80  and the leading edge of the printing plate  70  are enveloped within the diapering material  90 . 
     The folded leading end  96  of the diapering material  90  preferably does not overlap the printing plate  70  or very slightly overlaps with the printing plate  70 . Thus, the folded leading end  96  of the diapering material  90  creates a ramp-like structure to ease the rollers  20 ,  22  onto the printing plate  70  and the associated region of the heavy fabric  80 . While the printing plate  70  could be shaped to have a ramp-like structure, or a separate ramp-like structure could be used, using the diapering material  90  to form the ramp allows the diapering material  90  to compress away while the printing plate  70  forms a distinctive top plate line in the heavy fabric  80 . Moreover, the diapering material  90  provides more cushion as the heavy fabric  80  and the printing plate  70  pass through the rollers  20 ,  22 . Thus, the diapering material  90  reduces the likelihood that the printing plate  70  will crack during the extreme pressures experienced during rolling. 
     Prior to initiating rolling, the combination of the diapering material  90 , the heavy fabric  80  and the printing plate  70  are positioned on the press bed  36  and the blankets  60 ,  62 ,  64  are lowered and smoothed. The combination then is ready for rolling at an appropriate pressure. See S- 7  in  FIG. 8 . When rolling canvas, the rollers  20 ,  22  are set at about 1.0 on the gauges  34  of the etching press  10 . In contrast, when rolling paper using thin metal printing plates (e.g., 1/16 inch thick plates) during paper-based intaglio, the rollers are set at about 0.12 on the scale of the etching press. Thus, immense pressure is used when rolling the heavy fabric  80 . If insufficient pressure is used during an initial rolling, the pressure can be increased incrementally using the pressure adjusters  30  to approach a desired pressure. With high pressure applied, rolling takes place at a slower pace. 
     The combined printing plate  70  and the heavy fabric  80  may be passed through the rollers  20 ,  22  one or several times depending on the desired amount of relief to be achieved. Generally, the more times the rollers  20 ,  22  are passed over the printing plate  70  and the heavy fabric  80  with increased pressure, the greater the relief in the final artwork. Greater three-dimensional relief may also be achieved by increasing the pressure exerted by the rollers  20 ,  22  on the printing element  58 . 
     When rolling is complete, the blankets  60 ,  62 ,  64  can be lifted from over the diapered printing plate  70  and heavy fabric  80 . As showing in S- 8  in  FIG. 8 , the diapering material  90  can be removed and the heavy fabric  80  can be worked by hand into the recesses  74  on the etching surface  76  of the printing plate  70  to pick up additional paint. Working by hand, as used herein, means pressing into recesses, grooves or the like with hands or different instruments. Preferably, working by hand takes place while the heavy fabric  80  still is slightly damp from the starch bath. In some applications, rolling can be repeated before or after working by hand. 
     As shown at S- 9  in  FIG. 8 , following the initial rolling, additional iterations can take place. For example, in some applications, the steps can be repeated more than 10 or 15 times. When repeating the steps, the paint can be applied to selected portions of the printing plate  70 . For example, during the repeat steps, more paint can be added, different colors can be added, upper and lower shadows can be added, such that 15 or 20 process repeats can be used to create a final work of art. When completed, the final work of art is the heavy fabric  80  that comprises a three-dimensional relief  100  and a plate line  102  that encircles the relief  100 . The plate line  102  clarifies that the work of art is a true print and not a mere reproduction. In some applications, one or more coats of paint also can be positioned inside of the plate line. In some embodiments, monotype printmaking techniques can be used, and multiple iterations of passing the heavy fabric  80  through the rollers  20 ,  22  can be used to apply additional paint from the planographic surface to the heavy fabric. When completed, the final work would comprise a plate line  102 . 
     As shown at S- 10  in  FIG. 8 , to prepare the completed heavy fabric  80  for final display, a protective layer can be applied thickly to the prepared side of the canvas. The protective layer can be any suitable sealant or preservative. Preferably, the protective layer is a spray varnish. In some applications, the protective layer can be a Damar varnish. Typically, about three times more than would be used on a flat canvas to allow more of the varnish to seep into the image to hold the plate line and image line, which can be seen on both sides. One or more coats of varnish are applied. In preferred embodiments, several thick coats of varnish are applied to the print. 
     Although the present invention has been described in terms of a certain embodiment, other embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art also are within the scope of this invention. Thus, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, various components may be repositioned as desired. Moreover, not all of the features, aspects and advantages are necessarily required to practice the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to be defined only by the claims that follow.