Zinc Etching Plates – Natural Finish

Description

Our zinc etching plates provide a smooth, consistent surface that’s ideal for traditional printmaking techniques. Chosen by artists for its clean bite and controllable tone, zinc is well suited to fine line work, aquatint, and deeper etched marks. Plates are supplied ready to prepare and can be trimmed or cut to the exact size you need for your press and workflow.

Zinc Etching Plates – Surface & Preparation Details

Each plate is produced from high-quality zinc sheet with a flat, even surface that responds predictably to ground application, drawing, and etching. The material offers excellent plate-making characteristics, allowing you to achieve crisp lines and rich tonal passages. Plates are supplied with light protective film or interleaving where available to help prevent surface marks in transit; simply degrease before applying grounds.

Popular Sizes & Thicknesses for Zinc Etching Plates

We stock zinc etching plates in standard printmaking sizes: A6 (105 x 148mm), A5 (148 x 210mm), A4 (210 x 297mm), A3 (297 x 420mm), and 600 x 500mm. The standard thickness is 1.0mm, balancing rigidity with easy handling; other thicknesses such as 0.8mm, 1.2mm and 1.5mm can be supplied. Custom sizes and formats available on request — send us an enquiry for a quick quote.

Key Features

• Smooth, consistent zinc surface for reliable plate making
• Great for fine line etching, deeper bites, and tonal work
• Flat, even stock suited to studio and teaching environments
• A-size plates plus larger formats stocked
• Available in standard sizes or supplied as custom layouts

Working Tips

• Degrease plates before applying hard or soft grounds
• Bevel plate edges for safe handling and clean printing
• Label and protect plates between states to preserve surfaces

Plate Preparation & Custom Sizing

Plates are supplied face-covered and can be trimmed to your required plate size before shipping. Just add your measurements in the trimming instructions box under the size selector. If you need corners clipped, registration marks, or specialised plate formats, view our Sheet Metal Cutting page.