Page 448 - (DK) The Ultimate Visual Dictionary 2nd Ed.

THE VISUAL AR TS

Printmaking 1 THE FOUR MAIN PRINTING PROCESSES

Paper Printed
image
PRINTS ARE MADE BY FOUR BASIC printing processes—intaglio,
lithographic, relief, and screen. In intaglio printing, lines are Engraved
or etched
engraved or etched into the surface of a metal plate. Lines image
are engraved by hand using sharp metal tools. They are Metal
etched by corroding the metal plate with acid, using acid- plate Inked
area
resistant ground to protect the areas not to be etched. The
plate is then inked and wiped, leaving the grooves filled
INTAGLIO
with ink and the surface clean. Dampened paper is laid
Printed
over the plate, and both paper and plate are passed through image
the rollers of an etching press. The pressure of the rollers Paper
forces the paper into the grooves, so that it takes up the ink,
Damp
leaving an impression on the paper. Lithographic printing is surface
based on the antipathy between grease and water. An image rejects ink
Image
is drawn on a surface—usually a stone or metal plate—with
Ink adheres drawn on
a greasy medium, such as tusche (lihographic ink). The to greasy stone
greasy drawing is fixed on to the plate by applying an acidic image with greasy
medium
solution, such as gum arabic. The surface is then dampened LITHOGRAPHIC
and rolled with ink. The ink adheres only to the greasy areas
and is repelled by the water. Paper is laid on the plate and
Paper Printed
pressure is applied by means of a press. In relief printing, the image
nonprinting areas of a wood or linoleum block are cut away
using gouges, knives, and other tools. The printing areas are
Raised
left raised in relief and are rolled with ink. Paper is laid on figure Inked
the inked block and pressure is applied by means of a press surface
Wood
or by burnishing (rubbing) the back of the paper. The
block
most common forms of relief printing are woodcut, wood
RELIEF
engraving, and linocut. In screen printing, the printing
surface is a mesh stretched across a wooden Wooden
frame
frame. A stencil is applied to the mesh
to seal the non printing areas and ink Ink forced Stencil
through
is scraped through the mesh to mesh
produce an image. Printed
image
Paper
EQUIPMENT USED IN SCREEN
LEATHER INTAGLIO PRINTING
INK DABBER

ROCKER SCRIBER ROULETTE SCRAPER BURNISHER CLAMP

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