Step 1: Understanding the Drying and Baking Process.
During the drying and baking process, clay undergoes shrinkage. This is because water evaporates from the clay, causing it to contract. This shrinkage must be carefully managed to prevent cracking or warping.
Step 2: Analysis of options.
- (1) Leather hard: Incorrect, leather hard refers to the stage when clay is firm but still damp, and is not directly related to the drying and baking process.
- (2) Soak: Incorrect, soaking refers to wetting the clay but does not occur during the drying and baking process.
- (3) Shrinkage: Correct, shrinkage occurs as the clay dries and the water content decreases.
- (4) Wax resist: Incorrect, wax resist is used for decorating pottery, not related to the drying and baking process.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Thus, the correct answer is (3) Shrinkage.