Printing Processes

Printing Processes

Relief Printing:

Relief painting is the use of a wood block and paper to print an ink design onto the piece of paper

The Process(es)

Using a Wood Cut Block

1. Tone your block using Indian ink wash or the wash of a jet black film ink
2. The drawing can now be transferred using an iron oxide or carbon paper transfer
3. The artist decides what form of black or white line composition to use
4. After the image is inked into the block, you can begin printing
5. Roll ink over the surface of your block
6. Place your paper on the press and pass through the printing press

Using a Baron

1. Ink your block
2. Place a thin sheet of paper big enough to cover the entirety of the block over your block. 
3. Use a baron to transfer the ink onto the sheet of paper (baron definition).
4. Rub the baron atop the sheet of paper while making sure you are applying even pressure to the block.

Intaglio Printing:

Intaglio printing is when your design is engraved into the flat surface of your printing plate

The Process(es)

Dry Point

1. Using an etching tool to scratch your design onto the printing plate
2. The burr (raised metal) created from the scratching your design will hold the ink
3. Use a roulette (offset dots tool) to add tone to your plate
4. Steel face your plate to help it remain strong for printing

Etching

1. Polish and clean your plate
2. Apply a ground (asphaltum, wax, and rosin)to protect the non-image areas of your plate
3. Smoke the plate (should be jet black)
4. Scratch at the plate lightly so the copper underlay shows through
5. Etch the plate for 15
6. Pull out etch for 15 minutes, rinse, and place back in the ink bath for 15 minutes

Printing

Wipe your plate with ink to force ink into the recesses (the area you scratched your design in to). Make sure you use tarlatan to remove ink from the raised areas around your design. Make sure all of the white areas on your plate remain white by wiping off the edges. Place your plate onto the base of your press and lay a damp sheet of paper on top of it. It is run through the press at high pressure.

Lithography

Lithography printing revolves around grease (greasy media) and water
resisting each other on a lithographic stone

The Process

First Etch

1. Draw a sketch onto your stone using greasy material (ex. a grease crayon)
2. Apply gum arabic to your stone
3. Apply acidified gum arabic (TAPEM)
4. Remove excess material and add another thin layer of gum arabic to the stone
5. Use cheesecloth to evenly buff in gum

If I were to try one of these processes, I think I would want to try Relief printing most because I looked at many examples of each printing process and I personally liked the results of relief printing best. It looked like animals were something you could easily create by using this process. Also, the process itself seemed the simplest to me out of the 3 options. I think that in a way printing could have been an early (early) start to photography. But in relation to contemporary designers, it could have influenced them because of the fact that many of these printing processes involve textures and shapes and patterns, just like modern contemporary art does, as well.