1. A Primer to Fine Art Printmaking
A Primer on Fine Art Printmaking
Introduction
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A Primer to Fine Art Printmaking
Nick Humphries
OILS 500
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Greetings and welcome to A Primer on Fine Art Printmaking. In this learning module you will learn the basics of the printmaking process, as well as some of the mediums that are employed in the printmaking process. After this learning event you should be able to better identify different types of prints, and have a basic understanding of some of the processes that go into printmaking.

2. What are prints? A Primer on Fine Art Printmaking What are prints?
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What are prints?
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With the emergence and accessibility of digital medium, when most people hear the word “print” or “prints” they often associate it with digital prints. The main area we will focus on is fine art printmaking. Fine art printmaking encompasses a variety of mediums. These types of prints are typically hand inked and hand pulled through a printing press. Different types of prints require different tools and printing presses to operate.

3. A Primer on Fine Art Printmaking
A brief history of prints
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Digital prints themselves are a fairly new invention, as with photography. Printmaking in its earliest form predates to the 15th and 16th century. Some of the earliest mass produced prints were created by artist who also had experience in jewelry making such as engravers. Many early works focused around religious themes or ideals revolving around monarchy. Printmaking offered a large advantage over painting: prints that were made were lightweight, and could be made in large editions for the masses. Another advantage was it allowed imagery to accompany early books and publications.

4. A Primer on Fine Art Printmaking Print medium types 4/10
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Some of the most common types include the following:
•Relief
•Intaglio
•Lithography
•Serigraphy (silk screen)
In The slide we’ll briefly describe each of these processes.

5. A Primer on Fine Art Printmaking
Print medium types - relief
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One of the earliest examples of printmaking was in the form of relief prints. Typically this involves starting with a flat piece of wood and removing selected areas until the desired image is achieved. Once the wood block is carved out enough only the raised areas of the wood accept ink. From this point a sheet of paper can be placed on top and either ran through a press or hand rubbed. While wood is traditionally used, another popular technique used today is with linoleum. Linoleum offers a different aesthetic than wood. The surface tends to be smoother, so there are not markings of the wood incorporated into the print.

6. A Primer on Fine Art Printmaking
Print medium types - Intaglio
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In intaglio prints, a plate or sheet of metal is marked, etched or engraved. Typical materials include sheets of copper or zinc, but other metals may be used. Once the plate has been worked it is inked by hand it is placed through a high pressure press. Unlike relief prints, where the ink goes into the positive space, ink reticulates in the areas that were marked or removed. A common example of engraved plates in today’s world is our paper currency.

7. A Primer on Fine Art Printmaking Print medium types - Lithography 7/10
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Lithography, first discovered in the late part of the 18th century varies differently from early its printmaking predecessors. Unlike relief and intaglio the process involves no physical removal of the plate/matrix at all. In lithography a slab of limestone is often used. The drawing materials for the original image involve grease crayons or pencils. Once the desired image is achieved the overall stone is treated with a light acidic solution. This causes the greased areas to accept ink, and the non-greased areas –the bare portion of the limestone to reject ink. Once the stone has been properly inked it is put through a high pressure press. The result is the ink transferring to the paper making a lithographic print. In more recent years aluminum and photo reactive plates are used. Each of these matrices have their own advantages and disadvantages.

8. A Primer on Fine Art Printmaking
Print medium types - Serigraphy
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One of the more recent mediums in print to emerge is serigraphy. Serigraphy (also refed to as silkscreen) is not only in art by a variety of industries today. The most popular of course is making designs on t-shirts. While it can be a handmade process, industries have also figured out ways of making it more automated, for items such as making street signs. Serigraphy typically involves the use of a fine mesh screen. Certain areas are blocked out, preventing ink from go through them. Once the design is achieved the ink is run through the screen. All of the areas where ink is allowed to pass through, ink will transfer through onto the medium.

9. A Primer on Fine Art Printmaking Printmaking paper types 9/10
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One of the largest advantages of printmaking is that under the right conditions all the prints that are made are archival. When we use the term archival - that means that the paper is usually acid free, and is intended to last under optimal conditions. When we think of paper that we used for writing etc , people often suggest that papers originals are from trees. Unlike regular paper, printmaking papers are usually made from some form of plant pulp instead. Most western style papers made today for printmaking are a composition of cotton and linen – like United States currency. Fun fact: US paper is made from a blend of 75% cotton, and 25% linen. It is illegal to make paper using this ratio. Even commercial paper makers for printmakers are restricted from using this composition – only ratios of 65 /35 or 85/15 are permitted to avoid the possibility of counterfeit. Printmaking paper is typically heavier weight than regular paper, and it is very resilient so work with.

10. Final slide- progress to quiz
A Primer on Fine Art Printmaking
Final slide
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Final slide- progress to quiz
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After this learning module you should have some basic information regarding fine art printmaking. From here you should be able to differentiate between the different types of mediums as well as how they are made. To show what you’ve learned take the quiz. Once the quiz is finished we will move onto our next chapter. Thanks for watching!