Prepare the steel plate. Remove any dust, debris and impurities from its surface. Use paint thinner to remove grease.
Sand the steel plate. Start with a coarse-grit sandpaper. If you want to obtain a cleaner and a whiter background with fine details, sand the plate with a finer-grit sandpaper as well.
Remove any fingerprints from the surface of the plate using paint thinner.
Prepare a liquid solution of bitumen, using crude bitumen and paint thinner. Use 1/2 lb. of crude bitumen in 4 cups of thinner and stir vigorously until the bitumen is melted. Apply the solution on both sides of the steel plate, especially the sanded side. This is the front of the plate.
Draw on the front of the steel plate using a metallic needle. Keep in mind that everything you draw will be reversed when you print on paper.
Prepare the sulfuric acid bath in a plastic container. Use one part sulfuric acid to five parts water. Don't stir the solution.
Immerse the steel plate in the container filled with sulfuric acid. Keep it in for 10 to 30 minutes.
Remove the plate from the acid bath and place it under running water for two to three minutes.
Wipe off the bitumen using a rag dipped in paint thinner. The plate is ready for the printing process.