Printing Processes

Relief Process

Relief process is when an artist uses linoleum or wood and carves into it to create a print. You start by creating a drawing on a piece of paper with ink and then transferring that onto the wood or by drawing an image onto a stained piece of wood. After that the artist can use black line or white line composition to create depth in the image. When the wood has been carved you can apply ink to the wood and use it to print onto paper and create images. This process can be helpful for making multiple replications of an image.

Relief Process Print (Obama)

Intaglio Process


In this process you must scratch onto a flat copper plate to create lines deep enough for ink to sink in and create a print when pressed onto paper. Firstly, you must prepare the plate by cleaning and polishing it and then preparing ground to protect the areas of the plate that hold ink. After preparing a ground on the plate it is jet black and you can scratch the surface to reveal the plate and create your design. After that you etch the plate by placing it into a bath of acid to create deep troughs that will hold the ink. It is taken out and the placed back in. After the plate has gone into the bath it is ready to be inked and used to print.

Intaglio Process Print (Plant Goddess)

Lithography Process

This process uses a stone that is receptive to grease and water. This stone is very delicate and is a very cool and complicated printing surface. This type of printing process is used especially by writing and news businesses. The grease materials used are lithographic pencils and crayons and that is used to draw directly on the stone. The stone is etched afterwards and different materials like rosin and gum arabic are added to the stone. Afterwards TAPEM is added and gum is added again. This stone is then buffed and a greasy solvent is added to the stone which prepares the drawing and stone for ink. After the surface of the stone is wetted, ink is applied. Ink is then forced into the crevices of the drawing and after multiple times, it is ready for paper.

Lithography Process Print (Lorde, Singer)