Collagraphs (a type of intaglio print, though I suppose a collagraph plate could be inked as a relief print) were the first kind of print that we worked on in Printmaking I at the University of Maine. We started out with simple test collagraph plates to give us some idea of what we were getting into, but sadly I don't know if I still have those first test plates... Anyhow, collagraphs are a good introduction to printmaking because the process has a very "arts & crafts" sort of feel, which many people find very easy to relate to even for those who are knew to printmaking. The basic process that we learned for our initial test plates was to find some flat object or material that has a bit of texture, and glue it down flat to a piece of mat board. The objects could not be made of metal because metal could damage the rollers of the intaglio press. I think I used part of an ostrich feather, a leaf, and some fabric - and glue it down to a piece of mat board, then slather a light coat of acrylic gel medium over all surfaces to seal the plate so ink and oil will not soak into it. It can then be inked and printed like an intaglio plate. This was a good process for introducing students to intaglio printmaking because it showed how even the tiniest textures on the objects we chose could be transferred to a print, and provided a good deal of opportunity for troubleshooting by exploring the boundaries of what will and will not work for intaglio prints.