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PRINTMAKING TERMS &

INFORMATION
WAVERLY-SHELL ROCK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
MR. ADELMUND
Additivedrawing:adirectpaintingontoglassorplasticthatisthenprintedonpaper.
Artistsproof:proofsofworkinprogress,orafewfinishedproofsreservedfortheuseoftheartist.
Aquatint:aformofIntaglioPrintinginwhichapowderedresin,whichisacidresistant,isappliedtoametal
plate.Thiscomplexprintingprocesscreatesatonaleffect.
Baren:atool(41/2-inchcirculartool)usedtoapplyaneven,smoothpressuretothebackofthepaper,
causingatransferofinktothepaper.Aspoonmayalsobeused.
Benchhook:ametalorwoodenplatewitharaisededgetoholdawoodcutorlinocutinplaceonatable
whilecutting.
BlindEmbossment:usesnoinkandsimplycreatesasculpturalimageinthepaper.Usea
cleanblanketagainstpaper.
Blockprint:atypeofprintmakinginwhichtheimageisprintedfromthesurfaceofalinoleumorwoodblock.
Non-printingareashavebeencarvedaway.
Brayer:arollerfortransferringinktotheplateforprinting.
Burin(graver):anengravingtoolwithawoodenknobtofitthepalmofthehandononeendand,onthe
other,apointofavarietyofshapesonashortsteelrod.
Burnisher:asteelengravingtoolwithacurvedendusedforpolishingtheplate.
Cloth prints: printsproducedoncloth.Linen,cotton,andsilkarefrequentlyused.
Collagraph:aprintmadefromaspeciallyconstructedplatethathasbeenproducedinacollagemanner,
resultinginhighandlowsurfaceswhichholdinkdifferentlyduringprinting.
Counterproofs:inprintmaking,impressionstakenfromaprintordrawingbypassingitthroughapress
againstadampsheetofpaper.Theimageappearsinreverse.
Drypoint:intagliotechniqueinwhichasharppointisusedtoincisealineintoaprintingplate;thelineholds
ink,asdoestheresultantburryieldingasoft,smokytone.
Edition:thenumberofimagesprintedfromtheplate,stone,block,orotherprocess.Thebodyofthe
editionisnumbered(forexample,1/100through10/100)directlyontheprint,usuallyinpencil.
Embossing:atypeofprintmakingthatcreatesaraised,sculpturalimageordesignin
thesurfaceoftheprint(paper),donewithorwithoutinkandwhileusingdampened
paper.Alsoknownascollograph.
Engraving:anintaglioprinttakenfromametalplateinwhichlinesarecutintoaplatewithaV-shapedtool
calledaburin;inkisthenforcedintotheselinesandwipedfromthesurfaceoftheplate,whichisthen
printed.
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Etching:aprinttakenfromaplateintowhichtheimagehasbeenbittenwithacid.Theplateiscoveredwith
awaxorresinground,whichisscratchedawaytorevealareasofmetal.Acidbitesintotheseexposed
areasleavingasurfacethatholdsink.
Facsimile:isareproductiondonetothesamescaleandappearanceastheoriginal.
Gouge:atoolforcuttingawoodorlinoleumblock;V-shaped,U-shaped.
Hardground:awaxyacid-resistantsubstancepaintedorrubbedandmeltedontotheetchingplate;a
designisscratchedthroughit.
Inks:oil-basedorwater-basedinks.
Intaglioprinting:(anItalianterm)theinkisdepositedbelowthesurfaceoftheplatewhichhasbeen
corroded,scratched,orincised,andthesurfacewipedclean;adamppaperforcedintothesurfacebybeing
runthroughthepressunderpressure,drawingtheinkoutofthegroovesandontothepaper.Intaglioprints
areoftencharacterizedbyanembossedlinearoundtheimage,whichismadebytheedgesoftheplate.
LimitedEdition:aprintinwhichalimitisplacedonthenumberofimpressionspulledinordertocreatea
scarcityoftheprint.Limitededitionsareusuallynumberedandareoftensigned.
Linocut:areliefcutmadefromanimagecarvedintoapieceofbattleshiplinoleumtheremovedarea
remainswhite.Alsoknownasalinoprintorblockprint.
Linoleumprint:areliefprintinwhichtheimageiscarvedintolinoleum,alsocalledalinocut.
Lithography:(lithography=stone-drawing)themethodofprintingfromaflatstoneormetalplate.A
drawingismadeonthestoneorplatewithagreasycrayonandchemicallytreatedsothatonlythe
greasydrawingwillholdinkwhiletheremainingsurfaceresistsit.
Matrix:anobjectuponwhichadesignhasbeenformedandwhichisthenusedtomakeanimpressionona
pieceofpaper,thuscreatingaprint.A{wood}block,{metal}plate,or{lithographic}stonecanbeused
asamatrix.
Mezzotint:aprintmakingprocessoftheintagliofamily.Itwasthefirsttonalmethodtobeused,enabling
half-tonestobeproducedwithoutusinglineordotbasedtechniqueslikehatching,cross-hatchingor
stipple.
Mineralspirits:apetroleumdistillatecommonlyusedasapaintthinnerormildsolventforcleaningoil-
basedink.Usedasanalternativetoturpentine,onethatisbothlessflammableandlesstoxic.
Monogram:adesigncomposedofoneormoreletters,typicallytheinitialsofaname,usedasan
identifyingmark.
Monotransfer:turpentineputdirectlyonfreshnewspaperormagazineprintsandplacedonfreshpaper,
thenburnishedonthebackwithapenciltotransfertheprintstothecleanpaper.
Monoprint:oneofaseriesofprintsinwhicheachhassomedifferencesofcolordesign,texture,etc.applied
toanunderlyingcommonimage.Nottobeconfusedwithamonotype.
Monotype:aone-of-a-kindprintmadeinaneditionofone,oftenfromapaintingmadeonanon-absorbent
glassormetalplate.Theimagecanbetransferredtopaperbyhandrubbingorwithapress.
Mordant:acidusedinetching:nitricacid,hydrochloricacid,andferricchloride.
Negativespace:emptyspace,surroundingapositiveshapeandalsothespacebetweentwopositive
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shapes.Theinteriorspaceorspacethatsurroundsapieceofsculpture.
Needle:asharppointedtoolusedtoscratchorremovewaxorotherresinsfromtheprintingplatepriorto
theetchingprocess.
Numbering:indicatesthesizeoftheeditionandthenumberofeachparticularprint.Therefore,25/75
meansthattheprintisthe25thimpressionfromaneditionof75.
Offsetprinting:methodofprintinginwhichtheimageistransferredfromtheplateontoanintermediary,
suchasaroller,andthenontopaper,resultinginafinalprintedimagethatisnotreversed.
Photography:theartofmakingphotographsforfineartorcommercialpurposes.
Plate:thebasisforaprint-canbewoodenorlinoleumblock,cardboardcollagraph,acrylicormetal.
PlanographicPrints:printsmadefromaflatsurfaceareaonwhichinkisplaced.Thelithographis
planographicasaremonoprintsmadefrominkspreadonaflat,nonporoussurface.
Print:asingleprintisapieceofpaperuponwhichanimagehasbeenimprintedfromamatrix.Inageneral
sense,aprintisthesetofalltheimpressionsmadefromthesamematrix.Byitsnature,aprintcan
havemultipleimpressions.
PrintingInk:blockprintinginksareavailableintwotypes:water-solubleandoil.Bothhavethepropertyof
goodinktransferfromthelinoleumcuttothepaper.
Printmaking:theproductionofimagesnormallyonpaperandexceptionallyonfabric,parchment,plasticor
othersupportbyvariousprocessesofmultiplication.
Proofing:afterachangehasbeenmadeonaplate,itisnecessarytoseewhathasbeendonebeforegoing
ontothenextstep.
Reductionblockprint:oneplateisprintedseveraltimes,removingaportionandchangingcoloreachtime
(workingfromlightesttodarkest)
Reproduction:acopyofanoriginalprintorotherartworkwhosematrixdesignistransferredfromthe
originalbyaphotomechanicalprocess.Afacsimileisareproductiondonetothesamescaleand
appearanceastheoriginal.
Registration:placementofthepaperandblocksoeachsucceedingcolorinamulticolor
printwillbepositionedcorrectly.
ReliefPrint:aprintingproducedwhenraisedsurfacesareinkedandappliedtopaperorothermaterials.
Woodcuts,linocutsandcollographsareexamplesofreliefprints.
Resist:thesubstanceappliedtoaprintinggroundtopreventadhesionofanothersubstance,suchasink.
Run:theindividualtimesapieceofpaperisprinted.
State:atrialprintingperformedwhiletheplatemakingisinprogress.
ScreenPrint:stencilsareattachedtoporousfabricssuchasnylonandpolyester.Inkissqueezedthrough
openingsinthestenciltoproduceaprint.
SignedPrint:aprintthatissignedinpencilorink,bytheartistand/orengraveroftheprint.
Stipple:createdfromasupportedplateuponwhichthedesignhasbeenproducedusingdifferentsized
smalldotsgroupedmoreorlesscloselytogetherinordertocreateareasoftone.
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Stoppingout:applyingvarnishtoareasofametalplatetopreventacidfrometching;usuallycombinedwith
aquatint.
Turpentine:afluidobtainedbythedistillationofresinobtainedfromtrees.Twoprimaryusesareasa
solventandasourceofmaterialsfororganicsynthesis.Thisproducttendstobetoxicandhighly
flammable.
Tusche:greasydrawingmaterialusedinlithographyandscreenprinting.
Watermark:adesignembossedintoapieceofpaperduringitsproductionandusedforidentificationofthe
paperandpapermaker.Thewatermarkcanbeseenwhenthepaperishelduptolight.
WoodEngraving:areliefprintingcutwithengravingtoolsintoend-blocksofwood,whicharemoredense
thanregularwoodcutplates.
Woodcut:areliefprintmadebycuttingawaythesurfaceofawoodenplateandprintingthesurface;the
cut-awayareasremainwhite.
Rev.09/22/2010
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-THEARTOFPRINTMAKING-
THEFIVEMAINTYPESOFPRINTS:
1. Relief Prints Theartistdrawsthedesignonablockofmaterialthatcanbecut.
Those areas which are to be printed are left untouched and the areas to be left
whitearecutaway.Theraidedareasaretheninkedandtheblockprinted.
A.WoodcutTheearliesttypeofreliefprint. IntheEastitbeganintheeighth
century and in the West in the early fifteenth century. The design is either
painted directly onto the wood block or pasted on it. The cutter cuts all the
surfaceawayexceptthedesign.Whencuttingisfinished,thesurfaceisrolled
upwithinkandprintedwitheitherstraightpressureorrubbing.
B.LinoleumCut-Sameasawoodcutexceptthatlinoleumisusedtocreatethe
blockratherthanwood.
2. Intaglio Prints Here the areas that print are those which are depressed, rather
thanthosewhichremainonthesurface. Ametalplateiscutandinkisforcedin
therecessedlines.Adampenedpaperisplacedovertheplateandrunthrougha
press.Thepressforcesthepaperintotherecessedlineswhereitpicksuptheink
toproducetheprint.
A. Etching Ametalplateiscoatedbyamaterialwhichresistsacid,calleda
ground. Theartistthendrawsthedesignwithasharptoolwhichremoves
theground.Theplateisthenputinanacidbathwhichetchesoreatsaway
theexposedmetal.Thisproducesthesunkenlinethatwillreceivetheink.
B. Engraving The design is manually cut into the metal plate by the artist
usingahardsharptoolcalledaburin.
C. Aquatint Intaglio method on zinc or copper plates in which tones are
obtainedbypowderedrosinorpaintspray.
D. Mezzotint Intaglioprocessinwhichtheentiresurfaceofametalplateis
rockedwithaserratedtooltoproducearoughenedsurfacewhichyieldsa
richprintwheninked.
3. Planographic Prints This print is produced from a flat surface and utilizes the
natural repulsion of oil and water. The artist using a wax crayon to produce the
designonaspecialstone.Thestoneisthentreatedwithwatercausingtheinkto
adheretotheoilyareasandberepelledbythewaterareas.Theprintcanthenbe
produced.
A. Lithograph
4. StencilPrintsAdesigniscutinpaperorsimilarmaterialandinkisappliedoverit.
Theopenareasallowtheinktopassthroughtothepapercreatingtheprint.
A. Stencil
B. Serigraph or Silkscreen Aserigraphorsilkscreenisasophisticatedstencil
process,developedaroundthebeginningofthenineteenthcenturyandfirst
usedmostlyforcommercialadvertisinganddisplaywork. Theprocessgot
itsnamefromthefine-meshsilkthatistackedtoawoodenformandserves
asasupportforanintricatelycutpaperstencil. Theprintingwasbasedon
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the simple principle that the open mesh of the silk lets the paint through,
whilethepaperstencilgluedtoitblocksthepaintingout.Serigraphshavea
widerangefrombigboldareastodelicatetextures.Usedprimarilyforcolor.
5. Special Prints
A. Collagraph Afairly recentmethodofbuildingupaprintingsurface. The
printing plate is created by gluing all kinds of textures (sawdust, wood
shavings, ground walnut shells, wrinkled paper, cut out forms, etc.) to a
support (cardboard, masonite, zinc plate, etc.). The surface is then inked
and printed. The printing may be done by either the relief or intaglio
method.
B. MonoprintAprintisaneditionofone;auniqueprint.Actuallyitisaprinted
paintingorprinteddrawing.Theartistcanpaintonvarioussurfacessuchas
metal,plastic,andglass,andthenprinteitherbyrubbingoronanetching
press.
COLOR PRINTING:
Printinginmorethanonecolorcanbedone. Adifferentblock,plate,orscreenmust
beusedforeachnewcolor.Thebiggestproblemwithprintinginmorethanonecolor
isregisteringoraligningtheprintandthenewplate.Manyingeniousmethodshave
beendevelopedtoaccomplishaccurateregistering.TheJapaneseeighteenthcentury
woodblockartistswereparticularlyadeptofthis.
THE EDITION:
Mostprintsaredoneinanedition.Aneditionisthetotalnumberofprintsproduced
fromthefinalstateoftheplate. Mosteditionsarelimitedinsize. Alllimitededitions
are numbered. While the artist is working on the plate, each trial print is called a
state. When the artist believes the plate is ready for the edition, some prints are
pulledtotestthecolorofink,thepaper,andthestateoftheplate. Thesearesigned
with an A/P which means artists proof and indicated that they precede the actual
edition. Once the edition is printed, each print is numbered with a fraction such as
18/100. The first number tells which print of the edition you have and the second
numberindicateshowlargetheeditionis.18/100,therefore,meansyouhavethe18
th
printmadeoutofatotalof100thatweredone.
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THE PRINTING PROCESS:
1. Putinkonplate
2. Scrapeexcessink
3. Moveinkoverplateincircularmotion.
4. Withcheesecloth,rublightlyincircularmotions.
5. Usehealofhandandrubinacircularmotion.
6. Usenewsprintandrubinacircularmotion.
7. Wipeedgeofplate.
**Firstonelaysnewsprint,thenplate,thenprintpaper,thennewsprinton
pressforprinting.
8. Soakpaper110minutes.
9. Blotpaper.
10. Printonroughedge.
11. Runprintthroughpress.
12. Pinuporputondryingrack.