Lithography is a printing method invented in 1796 in which an image is created using oil or fat and water-based inks, which naturally repel eachother. This creates positives and negatives similar to black and white photography.The image is transferred from stone or metal plates onto paper or other materials. Lithography, specifically offset lithography, is the most common printing method for books and newspapers today.
Traditional Stone and Plate Lithography
Originally, images were hand-drawn onto marble or stone with a separate slab for each color. Eventually, metal plates took the place of marble and stone, though traditional methods are still used today by some artists. Plates were much easier to use and transport and much less costly.
Offset Lithography
Offset lithography built upon the principles of traditional stone print-making in a much more efficient and mechanical way. For this reason offset lithography is the most common style of lithography today and can been seen nearly everywhere---in books, newspapers, n maps, posters, and packaging. Instead of stone, plates of aluminum, polyester, or mylar are used. The image is printed from the plate onto a rubber mat or drum and then transferred onto the printing surface, hence the name "offset."
Microlithography and nanolithography
Micro- and nanolithography are used for creating images on a very small scale or with fine details. They are used for printing details as small as 10 micrometers or 100 nanometers, respectively. These types of lithography are used in creating microchips and some electromagnetic components.
Electron Beam Lithography
Electron Beam Lithography can be used to produce images of exceptionally high resolution, for example, photomasks. The image is created digitally and transferred from a computer for an electron beam.
Emerging Lithographic Technologies
There are additional lithographic technologies under development that have yet to become commercially viable. A few of these include nanoimprint, interference, X-ray, extreme ultraviolet, and scanning probe lithography.
