The drypoint is an engraving that is made directly on metal. To engrave you use a tip that does not carve the metal in depth, but only scratches it superficially digging thin and light grooves and lifting the sides of small irregular metal filaments called “beards”. For this technique the tip should be held between the fingers like a pencil and as one it should be conducted from top to bottom, swiping, with some pressure, on the surface. At the time of printing the “beards” will give the image that fragile appearance but also velvety and at the same time airy, which is characteristic of the drypoint. The metal tips can be smaller depending on the mark you want to get. The width and quality of the mark is linked not only to the thickness of the tip, but also by the pressure with which it is used and the inclination that is given to it.
The matrices used are generally softer zinc, and copper, but it is also possible to perform the drypoint on other surfaces such as plexiglass.
For the printing you should avoid a strong pressure of the press to not crush the beards. Drypoint editions are usually few (maximum 30 copies).