The most common method of making a rubbing is to spread a piece of moistened paper over the surface of an engraved item. The artisan uses a sheet of thin paper that is strong and highly absorbent. The artisan gently forces the paper into all the incised areas with a broad brush. He or she then takes a mushroom-shaped pad made of cloth (cotton tied inside), soaked with just the right amount of black ink, and gently taps it on all of the engraved areas as well as the background. The higher surface areas turn black while the incised parts remain white in color. When the ink is dry, the artisan gently peels off the paper from the engraved item. The Chinese term for "rubbing" (ta pian) aptly illustrates the process: "ta" means to hit lightly or tap, and "pian" is a thin piece of something (i.e., a sheet of paper). The process requires an experienced artisan, given the delicate nature of the paper, the challenges in preparing the right consistency of liquid ink from ink stones, and the need to recognize accurately the degree of drying needed for the paper.
