Art Prints : The History And Technique Of Printmaking

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Printmaking dates back to approximately the 5th century and is the earliest form of mechanical reproduction, allowing an artist to distribute multiple, more or less identical, copies of his or her work. In this article, we discuss the techniques and visual qualities of five different forms of art prints.

Printmaking started ages ago using woodcuts. Art prints using this method were created by drawing a sketch on a block of wood and cutting out all the parts between the outlines which did not need to be inked. Then ink was rolled on to the wood, which would only stick to the raised sections of the block. Finally, the block was pressed onto a sheet of paper to transfer the drawing.

Engraving is a another way of printmaking. In some ways, it works exactly opposite to woodcutting. In a woodcut, ink clings to the carved areas on the woodblock. In case of engraving, metal blocks mostly made of copper, are used. A special tool scrapes a sketch on this block. The durability of metal plates allows for multiple copies to be made, something not so possible in woodcuts.

An intriguing variant on engraving is drypoint. This method involves using a tool to scrape the sketch away, leaving a feathered edge to the block. Drypoint's unique method of preparation results in a visual quality that no other printing process can match. However, since the feathered edges will be worn off of the plate with time, drypoints can only be made in small batches.

The process of lithography allows one to put a graphic on shale. The image is created with a fatty tool, then covered with hydrochloric acid. This freezes the image on the surface. If limestone is used as a canvas, this process can save nuances impossible with other printing methods.

Giclee prints require modern digital imaging software and hardware. Jets of finely colored ink are used to reproduce a digital scan on paper. When the colors mix into many different shades, the result is a highly detailed, high resolution print. Landscapes and flower paintings are among the most frequent subjects of giclee prints, because of the richness of the resulting visual images.

About the Author:
Mechanical reproduction of art prints is an old practice which allows artists to distribute their work to many people. There are five different methods that yield different results. Woodcuts use a carved wooden block as a stamp to reproduce works while engraving uses a metal plate, which a sketch is scraped onto with special tools.



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