PRINTMAKING

In the visual arts, a "print" is a sheet of paper carrying an image pressed upon it from a plate created by the artist. The main feature of a print that distinguishes it from a painting or drawing is that the same image can be printed in quantity. The printmaker, traditionally signs these reproductions, or "impressions". On each print is typically written which impression it is and the number of impressions in the printing or "edition": "3 / 300"; meaning the third impression in a limited edition of a total of 300.

Printmaking can be classified into four major groups: lithography, screen-printing, intaglio and offset. In the current collection, only intaglio and offset are represented.

"Intaglio" refers to ink impressions made from a metal plate having the "negative" image etched or scratched into the metal. Ink is pressed into these depressions and the excess "wiped" off. The plate is pressed into the paper, leaving the "positive" on the paper. The metal plate will leave its impression, called the "plate mark" on the paper. This is one way to know that a print is intaglio. The way in which image is cut into the plate will indicate the kind of intaglio it is. If the plate has thin furrows removed with a sharp "burin", it is called "engraving. If the image is scratched into the surface with a needle, leaving a burr on the surface, it is called "dry point".

"Etching" is the use of acid to eat an image into the metal surface. A "resist" (varnish, tar, resin) covers the plate. When the resist is removed, it leaves bare metal, which is then removed, or etched, when dipped into a bath of acid. When the resist is scraped off with a needle, the print is called a "line etching". When the resist is a fine texture of melted resin deposited on the plate, the resulting print is called an "aquatint".

A. Copper plate for "Eye and Tao" print. Combines itching, engraving, aquatint techniques.	B. Finished print from copper plate. Ths is "emulsion printing", with line etching in black, thick emulsion in blue and thin emulsion in red. Singe print-run.

"Offset" printing occurs when ink is applied to a raised surface of the printing plate. Pressure is applied to the paper in contact with the inked surface to make an impression. Wood and linoleum are common surfaces into which are carved the negatives. The background of the image is removed with a chisel or knife, leaving the negative of the image. Ink is spread on the surface with a roller or "brayer". Paper is pressed onto the inked surface with the back of a spoon or in a block-printing press. The plate is called a "block" and the artwork that results is called, "block print".

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