Etching is a printmaking process that involves using a mordant or acid to cut a design into a metal plate. The artist draws on a zinc or copper plate covered with acid-resistant wax. The plate is then immersed in acid, which eats away the exposed metal lines. The depth of the etching is controlled by the acid exposure time. The incised lines hold ink which is transferred to moist paper to create a print. The process creates intaglio prints that are known for their fine detailed lines.