Mezzotint is characterized by which of the following?

• A. A tonal technique developed for relief printing
• B. A tonal printmaking technique where the plate is roughened for shading and smoothed for light
• C. A process that uses resin particles and acid for tonal shading
• D. Printing only black ink on white paper

Answer: (B)

Mezzotint is a tonal intaglio printmaking method. The plate is begin roughened all over so it grips ink everywhere, which creates very rich, velvety blacks. Then, to produce light and lighter tones, the artist scrapes and burnishes portions of the plate to smooth away the burrs and reduce how much ink those areas pick up. This allows a full range of tonal values—from deep blacks to light grays and highlights—without relying on lines. That’s why the best description is a tonal technique where shading comes from roughening for dark areas and smoothing for light. It’s not about resin and acid shading (that’s aquatint), nor is it relief printing, and it doesn’t limit printing to black ink on white paper—the tonal gradations create a spectrum of values.