We may not be aware how these books, newspaper, magazines and other printing materials have come to reality. We just know how to use it and get benefited from it. While, knowing
process…ah for many of us knowing process is just a waste of time. But looking back at printing procedures will gives us more ways to value printing materials we have especially books.Printmaking is a process for producing a work of art in ink; work (called a "print") is created indirectly, through transfer of ink from surface upon which work was originally drawn or otherwise composed. The artist determines how many prints are to be made in an edition, usually signing and numbering each one (and sometimes separately producing one or more artist's proofs. Depending on complexity of process chosen, artist may work in conjunction with an expert printmaker, and make use of a printing press, a baren, a brayer, and/or a squeegee.
And performing this printmaking can be done in following techniques. The most popular are woodcut, etching, lithography, and screen-printing. Other printmaking techniques include chine-collé, collography, monotyping, engraving, drypoint, mezzotint, linocut, aquatint and batik. These techniques can also be combined.
Woodcut, this type of relief print is thought to be earliest printmaking technique, dating back to 9th century China. The artist draws a sketch on a plank of wood and then uses sharp tools to carve away parts of block that he/she does not want to receive ink. The raised parts of block are inked with a brayer and then a sheet of paper, perhaps slightly damp, is placed over block. The block is then rubbed with a baren or spoon, or is run through press.
Etching is part of intaglio family (along with engraving, drypoint, mezzotint, and aquatint.) Etching prints are generally linear and often contain fine detail and contours. Lines can vary from smooth to sketchy. A waxy acid-resist, known as a ground, is applied to a metal plate, most often copper. After ground has dried artist uses a sharp tool to scratch into ground, exposing metal. The plate is then completely submerged in an acid that eats away at exposed metal. This process is known as biting. The waxy resist protects acid from biting parts of plate that have not been scratched into. The longer plate remains in acid deeper incisions become. The plate is removed from acid and ground is removed with a solvent such as turpentine. The entire plate is inked. A wad of cloth is often used to push ink into incised lines. An etching is opposite of a woodcut in that raised portions of an etching remain blank while crevices hold ink. The surface is wiped clean with a piece of stiff fabric known as tarlatan or newsprint paper. The wiping leaves ink only in incisions. A damp piece of paper is placed over plate and it is run through press.
