Dry point prints are made by scratching into a plate–usually a flat piece of plastic or metal–and raising a burr that will hold ink.  The ink is then vigorously worked into the plate and wiped according to how much “plate tone” the artist wishes to retain.  A plate that has been wiped extensively (removing all “plate tone”) can look like an ink drawing.  Leaving plate tone can add shadows, clouds, or just dramatic dark areas that give the final print atmosphere.  Famous proponents of dry point include Milton Avery, Max Beckman and Rembrandt.