Understanding Printing Techniques: 4 Types of Prints You Should Know

Dating back to China’s Han Dynasty (206 B.C.–220 A.D.), printmaking first emerged as a practical method for reproducing images before evolving into a complex and multifaceted craft.

Over centuries, printmaking has spread across cultures – offering artists an alternative medium to create and share their work.

From traditional methods to contemporary techniques, it remains a versatile and significant part of the art world.

Lithograph

Lithography is a planographic printmaking process developed in Munich in 1798, where a large slab and chemical reactions are used to create the desired image.

When creating a lithograph, the surface of the stone or metal plate must be carefully leveled to ensure a clean and even print. The design is then drawn directly onto the surface using an oil-based lithograph crayon or ink.

Once complete, the image is dusted with powdered resin and powdered talc to prepare it for the next step. A solution of mild acid and gum arabic is applied, causing a chemical reaction that ensures ink will only adhere to the drawn areas and prevent bleeding. The original drawing is then removed using lithotine, leaving behind the subtle image ready for inking and printing.

Before inking, a thin layer of asphaltum is brushed onto the surface and allowed to dry. The stone is then dampened with water, and ink is rolled over the design. A damp sheet of paper is carefully placed on top and pressed, transferring the image from the stone.

The result is a reverse impression of the original drawing, completing the lithograph.

Woodcut

The oldest form of printmaking is the woodcut process, dating back centuries and using careful carving of designs into the surface of a wooden block using knives and specialized tools.

Usually made from pear wood, the block used is cut to the desired size and seasoned to reduce its moisture content. Once the wood is prepared, the design is drawn directly onto the surface and carved out using tools such as knives, chisels, or gouges. Ink is then rolled over the woodblock, taking care not to fill the recessed areas.

Finally, a sheet of paper is placed over the inked block and pressed, transferring the design. Once lifted, the paper reveals a reverse image of the original carving, completing the woodcut process.

Serigraph

Serigraphy, also known as screen printing, is a stencil-based technique using a mesh screen to transfer designs that emerged in the early 20th century and quickly gained global popularity.

The process begins with a sheet of archival paper placed beneath a framed mesh screen. Ink is poured along the edge of the screen, and a squeegee is moved across the surface, pushing ink through open areas of the stencil below.

Each color in the design requires a separate screen and layer, making for vibrant, multicolored prints with sharp detail and bold contrast.

Etching

Etching is the most common intaglio printmaking technique, relying on incised lines in a metal plate to hold ink.

To begin, the plate is polished to create a smooth surface, then coated with a thick acid-resistant wax or varnish known as the ground. An etching needle is used to scratch through the ground, exposing the metal wherever lines are drawn. Once the design is complete, the plate is submerged in or coated with acid, which seeps into the exposed metal to create recessed lines.

To achieve varying depths and tonal values, the plate can be exposed to acid multiple times, allowing for lighter and darker lines depending on the variation of time. After the acid bath, the remaining ground is removed, and ink is applied to fill the grooves. The surface is then wiped clean with a solvent.

Once ready to be pressed, ink is spread across the surface. A damp sheet of paper is then laid on top, and the plate is run through a rolling press. This transfers the image onto the paper, leaving a distinct border around the print known as the plate mark – a signature feature of the etching prints.