The Initial Roll-up

After the first etch, the original drawing is replaced with ink. This entails a series of actions that are collectively referred to as the "Roll-up".

1. Gather all necessary roll-up materials
2. Without adding any ink to the leather roller, roll it vigorously on the ink slab until the ink loosens and creates a solid black roll out. If the roller has too much ink on it, scrape the ink up from the slab and roll out the roller again.
3. Lithotine: Remove the image from under the etch with lithotine. Wait for the lithotine to evaporate in the image areas before proceeding. The stone color lightens when the lithotine has evaporated. Fanning speeds the drying.
4. Asphaltum: Rub asphaltum into the image area. Wait for the asphaltum to evaporate in the image areas before proceeding. The stone color lightens somewhat when the asphaltum has evaporated. Fanning speeds the drying.
5. Water: Wash unwanted asphaltum and gum away with water. Use the "dirty" sponge.

NOTE: Lithotine, Asphaltum, Water - it's the LAW!

6. Keeping the stone wet with a thin layer of water, roll over the image with the inked up roller until it has properly inked up. Under ideal conditions, the image is considered properly inked up when it quits accepting additional ink, when its tonal range is as full as the originally drawn image, and when its black areas are totally covered with the ink. If the image doesn't seem to be taking enough ink, you may need to add "shop-mix" black to the roller. If the image still doesn't take ink properly, it may be because it was improperly etched.
   • Under-etched areas will take too much ink and "fill in". If parts of your image are rolling up too darkly, you should roll with caution so as not to over-ink them. One precaution is to switch to a stiffer ink (e.g., Senefelder's Crayon Black), and sometimes "spot rolling" is helpful.
   • Over-etched or "burned-out" areas will roll-up too light. If parts of your image roll up too lightly, you c an switch to a looser ink (e.g., Greasy Roll-up Ink) and/or spot roll these areas.
7. Make necessary deletions. Clean unwanted ink from edges, margins and images using sn ake slips, razors or strong etch solutions.
8. If you are satisfied with the image, proceed on. Otherwise, counteretch the image, rework it as necessary and begin again at the First Etch. Determine the Second Etch and apply it as described under Applying the Stone Etch.