1. Printmaking

2. What is Printmaking? Artists choose a surface to be a “plate’. It could be linoleum, styrofoam, metal, cardboard, or stone. Then the artists prepares the plate by cutting, etching, or drawing an image onto the plate. Ink is applied and paper is them pressed onto the plate by hand or with a printing press. The finished print is then pulled from the plate. Artists choose a surface to be a “plate’. It could be linoleum, styrofoam, metal, cardboard, or stone. Then the artists prepares the plate by cutting, etching, or drawing an image onto the plate. Ink is applied and paper is them pressed onto the plate by hand or with a printing press. The finished print is then pulled from the plate.

3. Often the first 3 or 4 prints are different from the rest of the edition. They are called the artist’s ‘proofs’. The number of prints pulled from a plate is called an edition, and once a certain number of prints are made, the plate is destroyed so more prints can’t be made later. This means the prints that were made become very valuable! Often the first 3 or 4 prints are different from the rest of the edition. They are called the artist’s ‘proofs’. The number of prints pulled from a plate is called an edition, and once a certain number of prints are made, the plate is destroyed so more prints can’t be made later. This means the prints that were made become very valuable!

4. Four Main Types of Printmaking Relief Printing Relief Printing Intaglio Intaglio Planography (Lithography) Planography (Lithography) Stencil: Serigrpahy Stencil: Serigrpahy

5. Relief Printing This printing is from a raised surface. An example would be a rubber stamp. Relief prints are made from flat sheets like metal, wood, styrofoam, etc. After drawing the picture on the surface, the artist cuts away the areas that won’t be printed. A roller (brayer) is used to spread ink on the plate, a sheet of paper is place on top of the plate,, and the image is transferred by rubbing the paper with your hand or a block of wood. It’s a mirror image of the original plate! This printing is from a raised surface. An example would be a rubber stamp. Relief prints are made from flat sheets like metal, wood, styrofoam, etc. After drawing the picture on the surface, the artist cuts away the areas that won’t be printed. A roller (brayer) is used to spread ink on the plate, a sheet of paper is place on top of the plate,, and the image is transferred by rubbing the paper with your hand or a block of wood. It’s a mirror image of the original plate!

8. Intaglio These prints are made by cutting the pitcute into the surface of the printing plate. Using a sharp V-shaped tool called a burin, the artist gouges the lines of the image into the surface of a smooth, polished sheet of metal or plexiglass. To make the print, ink is pushed into the lines which have been scratched out. The surface is wiped clean so the ink is only left in the scratches, a piece of paper that was soaked in water is place on the plate, and then it is all run through a printing press. The paper is literally forced into the small lines with the ink. These prints are made by cutting the pitcute into the surface of the printing plate. Using a sharp V-shaped tool called a burin, the artist gouges the lines of the image into the surface of a smooth, polished sheet of metal or plexiglass. To make the print, ink is pushed into the lines which have been scratched out. The surface is wiped clean so the ink is only left in the scratches, a piece of paper that was soaked in water is place on the plate, and then it is all run through a printing press. The paper is literally forced into the small lines with the ink.

10. Planograpgy (Lithography) Planography is the printing of a flat surface. Lithography is the art of printing from a flat stone (limestone) or a metal plate by a method based on the simple fact that grease attracts grease as it repels water. A design is drawn on the surface with a greasy material (crayon, pencil, ink, etc.) and then water and printmaking ink are applied. The greasy parts absorb the ink and the wet parts don’t. Planography is the printing of a flat surface. Lithography is the art of printing from a flat stone (limestone) or a metal plate by a method based on the simple fact that grease attracts grease as it repels water. A design is drawn on the surface with a greasy material (crayon, pencil, ink, etc.) and then water and printmaking ink are applied. The greasy parts absorb the ink and the wet parts don’t.

12. Stencil: Seriography A stencil is a sheet of paper, fabric, plastic, metal or other material with design cut out of it. Ink is forced through the openings onto the surface (paper, silk, etc.). This is often done with a squeegee (rubber mounted in a wooden handle). A stencil is a sheet of paper, fabric, plastic, metal or other material with design cut out of it. Ink is forced through the openings onto the surface (paper, silk, etc.). This is often done with a squeegee (rubber mounted in a wooden handle).