Lithography is an intaglio technique.
A type of printmaking where an image is incised into a copper or zinc plate, intaglio employs a variety of techniques to make the actual image. After the image is created, wet ink is applied to it and pressed into the recessed image. The plate is then wiped clean, leaving ink only in the grooves of the image. This inked plate is used to press the image onto dampened paper, which yields the image and the finished print.
Engraving
Engraving is one of the oldest and most labor-intensive forms of making an intaglio. A tool called a burin is used to cut lines right into the metal plate and create the image.
Etching
In etching techniques, the artist first covers the plate with a soft protective layer of wax or resin. Then, they use a thin needle to draw the image into the wax or resin, scratching off the layer down to the metal. The plate is then dipped in acid, which burns the exposed metal along the lines that have been etched off. These burned lines are then filled with ink to create the print.
Aquatint
Also using an acid solution, the aquatint technique is used to create tones not lines. The plate is covered with spray paint or dust and then dipped in the acid to create grainy spots for shading or tones.
Drypoint
A plow-like device is used to scratch lines into the plate that are lined by jagged material in drypoint. The jagged material catches more ink than the impression itself and renders a unique image that contains fuzzy and irregular lines.
Mezzotint
Mezzotint involves covering the entire surface of the plate with small notches that will all catch ink, rendering the image completely black if printed that way. However, before printing, the artist uses a tool called a burnisher to smooth down lines on the surface, creating the image in reverse. When printed, the entire plate is black except for the smooth, lined areas.
Lithograph
The lithograph is based on the fact that water and oils separate from each other. Wax crayons or other oil based instruments are used to draw the image, or shade in the image, and then, when the water-based ink is applied, it separates from the oily areas and moves to the lines in between the drawings. The lithograph renders the image in reverse tones, the drawing white and the background black.
