Printing Processes

Relief

Relief printing is where you cut away at a surface, creating an image from the raised area.  The process is quite simple, first you draw directly onto some kind of surface such as a wood block. Then, you cut away all that you have drawn, the actual lines will be white and the empty space will be inked. Next, you coat the surface in ink with a roller. Lastly, place a piece of paper over the block and apply pressure so the ink transfer onto the paper.  Let the ink dry, and the process is complete!

Intaglio

Intaglio printing process is where the image area is below the flat surface, meaning the cut out part. Two different types of intaglio are dry point and etching. The first step in this process is to start by polishing and cleaning your surface so nothing obstructs your work. You also need to add a ground which protects the white parts of the image. You then smoke the plate until the surface black. Next, you scratch away the ground on the plate to reveal the metal surface on which you are working underneath it, these scratches will be the black part of your image, because the ink settles into it. Next you etch the plate, which eliminates all bare metal areas on the plate. Next you clean the plate, removing the ground. You then apply ink to the surface and clean away all the extra. Lastly, you place a sheet of wet paper on top of the plate which you send through the printing press, finally revealing the finished product.

Lithography

The lithography process is made up entirely of how water and grease resist each other. You start by using a pencil specific to this process called a "lithographic pencil" to draw your image on stone. You apply gum arabic and TAPEM to the stone, then begin etching it. After that, you reapply the gum arabic, a process called cooling the stone. You then use a cloth to make the stone absorb the chemicals.  Next, use lithotine to wash your drawing, this will cause it to seemingly disappear, creating a "ghost image". Now you add on asphaltum then go over the image with a wet towel, dry towel, then sponge. Follow with applying ink immediately to the surface, making the image appear. Put a piece of paper on top of the stone and press the ink further into the stone. Lastly, put a dampened piece of paper on the stone and press the image on the paper.

Conclusion

I would like to try relief print making sometime because it seems to be fun, relaxed, and made the most sense to me. This older methods helped give current artists a base to build off of and grow from.