Printmaking - What is it?
Printmaking is a means of creating art by transferring an image or design onto a surface. This is done through several different methods. The main categories of printmaking are:
relief printing
intaglio printing
stencil printing
planographic printing
Relief Prints, such as collographs and wood cuts, are made by inking the protruding surface of the matrix (wood, lino, metal etc.) The recessed areas of the matrix are free from ink. Paper or fabric etc. is then applied to the matrix and pressed using a hand held roller or by hand.
Intaglio Prints, such as etching and engraving, are the opposite to relief prints. The matrix is covered in a resin then the design or image is etched or engraved into the plate, the ink is applied then the plate is wiped down. Because of the resin coating the ink only stays in the grooves of the pattern, this means when paper is applied the parts of the matrix that have been carved out are the part of the design that is inked.
Stencil Prints, such as silk screening, is a method of printing commonly used in manufacturing, like clothing and wallpapers. Designs can be made on a computer and cut out with a laser for stencil print or using light sensitive emulsion to create a stencil on a screen. The ink is then applied and when the stencil is removed the design is left on the surface.
Planographic Prints, such as lithographs, are prints that are made from a flat surface as opposed to a raised surface in relief prints. They are made using water and oil as these are substances that do not mix.