I’m told that certain printmaking papers should be soaked before printing. Can you tell me when one would do this and why?

Printmakers soak certain papers prior to printing because the paper fibers need to be thoroughly moistened in order to hold the print properly and allow for proper transfer of the inked image. This is particularly important for certain printmaking techniques like etching, where the paper must be pliable and receptive to the etching plate. The soaking time depends on the specific paper being used, with some requiring only a few minutes and others requiring several hours.