Printing is a technique that has been used for centuries in its primitive forms. As time passed, the process developed, leading to a wide variety of ways to transfer text or images on any kind of medium. The art of printmaking is very versatile and includes numerous methods, such as relief printing, intaglio printing, or planographic printing, as well as special processes such as 3D printing. The following article will give you an overview of every type of printmaking process.
Definition: Printmaking
Printmaking describes the printing processes and techniques used in various media. Generally, there are three types of printing:
- relief printing: ink applied to elevated surfaces
- intaglio printing: ink applied to lowered surfaces
- planographic printing: ink applied to the flat surface
Your guide to print and production
- Information on printing processes & print production
- Information on materials & optimal use of materials
- Information on print finishing & print processing
Learn more!
Relief printing
Relief printing is a printing technique, in which the ink or paint is applied on the elevated surfaces of a base. Usually, the elevated surfaces are created by scraping the non-painted areas off or by placing the elevated areas on top of the base.
| Linocut | Linocut is a technique where the negative spaces of an image are carved into a linoleum block before the ink is applied to the elevated surfaces. |
| Woodcut | Woodcut works the same way as linocut, only that a wood block is used instead of a linoleum block. |
| Letterpress printing | Letterpress printing uses elevated stamps to print an image or text onto a sheet of paper. These stamps can be made from plastic, metal, or wood. |
| Flexography printing is a more modern form of letterpress printing, which uses condom or photopolymer as a plate. | |
| Collagraph | Collagraph printing uses materials glued to a surface, like cardboard or wood, which is then used as a plate. |
Intaglio printing
Intaglio printing is a technique where the image is incised into a material so that the ink will seep into the etching. This means the scraped lines will appear on the print, and the upper level does not transfer paint to the medium during the printing process.
| Etching | For etching, a metal plate is covered in a resistant, before acid is used to etch lines into the plate. These lines are then filled with ink, which prints the image onto the medium. |
| Aquatint | Aquatint is another form of etching, which uses powdered resin to create tonal effects instead of sharp lines. |
| Engraving | Engraving works similarly to etching, only that special tools are used to incise the image into the plate. This plate can be made of metal, wood, or plastic. |
| Gravure printing works by creating cavities in a rotary printing press, which are filled with ink before transferring the image to the medium. | |
| Pad printing | Pad printing uses an etched plate to generate the 2D image that is then transferred by the pad onto an often 3D object. |
Planographic printing
Planographic printing works without elevated or etched surfaces, but instead transfers the image flatly to the medium. Most modern printers work this way, but screen printing also belongs in this category.
| Lithography | Lithography uses a stone plate, on which the image is painted on with fatty ink or crayons. Thereafter, the plate is etched with acid, which affects the stone everywhere but where the painting is. After the acid and fatty ink is retrieved, lipid-based ink is used to transfer the lines onto the medium. |
| Offset printing | Offset printing is the developed form of lithography, where metal printing press rolls transfer the image to a condom roll, from where it is printed onto the medium. |
| Thermal printing | Thermal printing is known for being used for receipts. The thermally sensitive paper is heated in specific areas, activating the ink to be seen. |
| Digital printing | Digital printing is an umbrella term for inkjet printing and laser printing, which print a digital image onto a surface or medium. |
| Inkjet printing | Inkjet printing uses ink to print an image onto a medium. |
| Laser printing | Laser printing uses a laser beam to form an image on a drum, which then attracts toner that is transferred onto paper. |
| Stencil printing | Stencil printing is done by cutting out shapes from a material such as paper or coated cloth, creating a stencil mask, through which the ink is transferred onto the medium on just the cutout spaces. |
| Screen printing | Screen printing uses a mesh that works as a stencil to push ink through it onto any surface, such as paper, cloth, or wood. |
| Sublimation printing allows the ink to penetrate the fibers of fabric and secures it with heat, creating a long-lasting, vibrant image. |
Special types of printmaking
Printmaking does not only include the traditional three methods, but there are other types of printmaking, such as 3D printing or large format printing, which pose specialties in the printing process.
3D printing
A 3D printer creates a 3-dimensional object out of plastic fibers or other materials, modelled as a digital construct on a computer before it is transmitted to the printer.
Large format printing
Large format printing includes printing on large formats of paper, used for posters or banners. Typically, every paper format starting with 12″ x 18″ or 30 cm x 45 cm is considered a large format.
Printing services at BachelorPrint
- Wide range of print products for every need
- Individual solutions & personal support
- High print quality & fast production times
Learn more!
FAQs
Printmaking is the process of transferring an image into or onto another medium via various techniques such as relief printing, intaglio printing, or planographic printing.
While screen printing uses a mesh as a template to print the image on top of the medium, sublimation printing allows the ink to seep into the fibers of a fabric before securing it with heat. This way, sublimation printing lasts far longer.
In printmaking, large format printing starts from a size of 12″ x 18″ or 30 cm x 45 cm. However, this measure might also vary depending on the shop.
