Printing Techniques

Letterpress, Linoleum and Intaglio Printing

Becca Dawson

Letterpress Printing
Letterpress printing is relief printing of text and image using a press with a typehigh bed printing press and a movable type, a reversed, raised surface Is inked and then pressed on to a sheet of paper to create a clear read image. It Was the main form of printing text in the mid-15th century until the 19th century. Johannes Gutenberg was the inventor.

Linoleum Printing
Linoleum is used in an artistic technique called linoleum printing which is similar to letterpress printing and woodblock printing. This technique is also called linocut. Linoleum is made from a variety of materials, including linseed oil, pine rosin, ground cork dust, wood flour and calcium carbonate. The mixture is boiled and then applied into a backing.

Intaglio Printing
The two main intaglio printing methods are, the area of the image to be printed is pressed into the surface of the printing plate and the pressed in areas are filled with ink. The image may be engraved with chemicals or tools. The other way is to press the image (to be printed) into the plates, the incisions filled with ink, and excess ink wiped from the plates. Heavy pressure is applied to transfer the ink from the plates to the paper, leaving the surface slightly raised and the back side slightly indented.