Printmaking is the process of transferring an original image onto a printing block or plate to produce multiple copies of that image. The Chinese developed woodcut printing around 100 AD to print books. There are four main types of printmaking - intaglio involves etching into metal plates, screen/stencil uses a mesh screen to pull ink through open areas, lithography draws images directly onto stone with wax, and relief involves cutting away parts of a surface to leave a raised design.

1. PRINTMAKING

2. What is PRINTMAKING?
 Printmaking is the act of making
series of identical images made by
transferring an original image to a
block, screen, stone or plate to
produce multiples of that image.
 This process is capable of making
multiple copies of the same artwork.
 Any textured surface can be used to

3. Basic Printmaking

4. VOCABULARY
 Print/Impression: Each individual copy of the
artwork
 Edition: A set of prints (3 or more)
 Limited Edition: a signed and numbered set of
prints (3 or more)
Add words as the slide
progresses.

5. History of Printmaking
The
Chinese
developed
a printing
technique
called
“woodcut”
to print
books of
Chinese
characters
and
images,
around 100
AD.
Printmaking
started in
China. The
Chinese
developed a
printing
technique
called
“woodcut” to
print books
of Chinese
characters
and images,
around 100
AD.

6. Types of Printmaking
 There are 4 types of printmaking;
 Intaglio Printmaking
 Screen/Stencil Printmaking
 Lithography
 Relief Printmaking

7. Intaglio Printmaking
 These prints are made by scratching and
etching images into copper or zinc plates. The
metal is coated with bitumen (like tar). The
image is scraped into this surface.

8. Intaglio (cont)
 The plate is immersed in nitric acid which
“bites” the lines into the plate. Ink is rubbed
into the grooves and lines. The paper and
inked plate is put through a press, which
pushes the paper into the inked lines.

9. Stencil Printing
 A process
which involves
cutting of the
design on
special paper or
cardboard or
metal sheet in
such a way that
when ink is
rubbed over it,
the design is
reproduced on

10. Screen Printing
 Formerly known as silkscreen and serigraph,
screen prints are done using a frame stretched
with a fine mesh polyester(organza sheer).
Parts of the screen are blocked out, others are
left open, like a stencil.
 Ink is pulled through the open parts of the
screen using a squeegee. This method is often
used for commercial applications such as t-
shirt printing.

11. Parts of a Screen

12. Lithography
 This is a complex method of printmaking
involving a large stone block. The image is
drawn directly on the stone with wax
crayon. The drawn parts attract the oil-
based ink and the wet stone resists the
ink.

13. Relief Printmaking
This is a sculpture or other design that
stands out from a flat surface.
http://www.artelino.com/articles/printmaking.asp
In printmaking, the
artist will cut away
parts of the surface
of a plate.
The part that is not
cut away will stand
out in relief.

14. Relief Printmaking(cont)

15. Things to consider
 Your image will print backwards
(mirror-imaged)
 There is no shading in linoleum cuts;
only black or white
 Your print is created by carving out
lines
 It’s very difficult to put detail into a
lino cut

16. White space is
carved out of
the block.
Leaving some
lines visible
adds texture.
On black
surfaces, white
lines are used
to differentiate
from the
background.
Good prints
balance light
and dark areas.
Textures can be created by varying lines, patterns and surfaces
with the carving tool.

17. Examples of Linoprints