The preliminary step before etching is to apply to the metal a corrosion inhibitor distilled from the solvents toluene, turpentine, and alcohol. Later on, after drawing lines onto the metal with an etching needle, a corrosive substance, a mordant, is added, which then reacts with the unprotected portions, resulting in an etched picture.
首先創作前須先在金屬板表面塗上一層防腐蝕劑，調配防腐蝕劑需用甲苯、松節油、酒精作溶劑，之後以鐵針、尖筆等刻劃線條，再放入腐蝕液中，使刻劃部分起化學反應，達到蝕刻效果。