To make a simple etching, lines are drawn with a needle onto a metal plate (usually copper or zinc) through an acid-resistant substance (called a hard or soft ground). The plate is then immersed in an acid bath which causes the exposed copper to be "etched," or "bitten" leaving fine lines below the surface of the plate. When these lines are deep enough, they will hold ink, once the ground is removed.

To print a simple etching, special ink is spread into the plate; this ink is pushed into the incised lines created below the surface of the plate. Then, extra ink from the surface is taken off ("wiped off") with a tarlatan cloth and hand wiped with the palm of the master printer's hand. The plate is placed face up on an etching press, a dampened sheet of paper is placed on top of the plate, then special blankets are placed over the paper and then all is rolled (hand cranked) through the press. This process creates one print: to make another print, it is repeated over again until the edition is complete.