Types of graphic arts

Woodcut
Woodcut is the oldest engraving technique, reaching its peak in the 15th and 16th centuries. The process is simple. The image is drawn on a block of wood and the background is carved to leave the image slightly raised above the surface. The paint is applied with a roller onto the raised surface. When a paper is applied over it, the relief leaves an impression like a stamp.

Linocut
Using the same technique, the artist can carve an image into linoleum. Linoleum is popular with certain artists as it is easier to cut than a block of wood, but its fragility makes large editions problematic.

Linocuts and woodcuts are called relief engravings, since the ink is transferred from the area that protrudes from the background. Prints created by inscribing the image on the plate and then filling in the gaps with ink are called intaglios. Etching and engraving are the most common types of intaglio.

Recorded
As its name suggests, engraving consists of inscribing lines on a metal plate with a tool called a burin. When the plate is etched, the ink slides into the grooves and the rest of the plate is whipped clean. The printing press forces the paper into the lines, to collect the paint and create a print.

Etching (low acid)
The engraving is created by scratching an image onto a wax-covered metal plate with a scratch needle. The plate is then dipped in acid which damages (bites) the metal exposed by the scratches, to create an image. A longer immersion in the acid results in deeper, darker lines. As in engravings, the ink slides through the grooves and is collected by the paper during printing. Etchings that use resin and varnish to add nuances are called aquatints.

Lithography
Lithography is a very popular option among artists who do not like engraving and cutting, as it only requires drawing knowledge. The image is drawn on the lithographic stone, zinc or aluminum plate, with a greasy paint (normally crayon or ink called touché). A chemical solution is then applied so that the oily image attracts ink and the white areas attract water. When ink is applied to the image, it adheres to the drawing and glides across blank surfaces. The remaining ink is transferred to paper to create a print.

This manual lithograph creation technique should not be confused with offset lithographs made with the use of a printing machine. The machine offsets the image onto the papers or rubber blankets and then onto the paper, which is why this type of lithography is called offset lithography. Offset lithographs are produced more quickly and in larger quantities, so they are usually cheaper than their manual counterparts.

Screen printing (screen printing; screen printing)
Screen prints are made by cutting an image into a paper or plastic film, thus creating a stencil. The template is then placed on a frame with silk, Dacron or other fine mesh fabric stretched over it. The color is pushed through the stencil with a squeegee (a piece of wood with a rubber blade) to create the image.