Clean the copper plate to remove all grease. Sprinkle a small amount talc on the surface of the plate and add a solution consisting of one-half ammonia and one-half water to create a paste. Gently rub the plate with a piece of felt. Rinse the plate in cool water.
Turn on the hot plate so it warms up to melt the rosin. Dry the copper plate using a clean piece of felt or allow it to air dry. Fill the rosin bag with finely ground rosin. Place the copper plate on a smooth flat surface and put on a face mask to prevent breathing in the fine rosin dust.
Hold the rosin bag high enough over the surface of the copper plate so a cloud of rosin hovers and then descends over the entire length and width of the plate when the bag is gently tapped. Try to get about 50 percent coverage of the entire surface of the plate. Use a magnifying glass to examine the spaces between the beads of rosin, which should be about equal to the size of the rosin beads.
Carry the plate to the hot plate and hold the plate over the heat until the rosin is melted. Heat the copper plate until the surface of the plate reflects a dark mirror-like image but retains a texture. Place the heated plate on a flat surface and allow it to cool.
Use etching tools to draw the image that will be etched into the copper plate. Attach strips of masking tape to the middle of the back of the plate extending about 12 inches beyond the edge. Put on the rubber gloves and protective eye-wear, and then dip the plate into an acid tray filled with ferric chloride.
Keep the plate submerged in the ferric chloride for a about 30 seconds of a print with a light tone. Expose the plate to the acid for a longer period of time to achieve darker tones. Lift the plate form the acid and rinse thoroughly in cool running water.
Ink the plate by gently scraping the paint across the print with a flexible spatula held at a 75-degree angle. Draw the ink across the plate from top to bottom and turn the plate and repeat if the plate has deep lines. Gently wipe off excess ink.
Place the inked plate in the printing press. Moisten the paper that will receive the print so that the paper receives the ink and position it over the plate on the press roller. Smooth the felts of the press so that there are no wrinkles and then gently crank the press to draw the plate and the paper into the press.
Lift the paper print carefully by one corner and place it in a safe place to dry. Re-ink the copper plate to make additional prints.