[Steve Lindsay]

Hi Jay, The background on the piece was cut out with a dental air drill and stippled. The color is flat black lacquer from Gesswein called "Background Antique" Link The lighting in the picture is the key to having the background and cuts be full black. All the lights were shut off in the room except for a lite sheet above the knife. The idea is to have no stray direct light coming in to light the background or cuts. Steve