Printmaking Techniques & Tools
November 4th, 2007 | by Art Supplies |Printmaking is an important part of art and is divided into 4 main categories. These are as appended below:-
- Intaglio printing
- Relief printing
- Planograhic printing
- Stencil process
Although the above mentioned are the main categories of printmaking but there are also other techniques used. Let’s discuss these four techniques one by one.
- Intaglio Printing. In this process the image is cut into the surface. It can also be etched or drawn into it. The technique is totally opposite to the relief technique. Different art supplies are used for the process. Ink is pushed into the sunken areas of the plate and heavy pressure is applied onto it. The pressure is applied so that the paper is pressed into the marks that are inked. This is how a print is created. The marks create the image and it is usually printed on roller press. Engraving, dry point, etching, mezzotint and collagraph are all examples of intaglio printing.
- Relief Printing. This process is the opposite of intaglio printing and a reverse image is produced. The print surface is represented by a flat surface of lino. This flat surface can also be of wood. Normally the portion of the design which is not required is cut off. A roller is used to ink the paper and then pressure is applied directly to transfer it to the paper. The part which has the image is surrounded by the part of the cut off blocks. In this process the plate is in direct contact with the paper. The printing is also known as direct pressure. The examples of relief printing are wood engraving and lino cut. Wood cut is also a type of relief printing.
- Planographic Printing. One of the types is Lithography. In this process same level is given to non printing and printing areas i.e. they are placed at the same level. A metal plate or litho stone is used on which the image is drawn. Depending on the type of press being used the image printed can be both reverse and positive.
- Stencil Process. Screen printing is a type of stencil process. This process is utilized to produce direct images. A stenciling process is used to produce these images. In this process layers of colors are built up by employing a silk screen. After application, the colors are also pressed with the silkscreen. The areas of the screen are not printed and this is done by blocking the areas.
Other than these four basic printing techniques there are also some other techniques used. One out of those is mono print. In this process a flat surface is used on which printing ink is applied and then it is transferred on to another paper which in turn produces the impression. All types of flat surfaces can be used, provided they are non absorbent and smooth. Surfaces best suited for this technique of printing are glass, acetate, plastic and metal. The image is produced and printed in reverse on the paper. The design produced is very near and similar to a paper painting. The various printing techniques are used by people of art circles to produce various eye-catching and exotic designs.
