LITHOGRAPHY: PLANOGRAPHIC PRINTING WPA

Lithography printing process operates under the assumption that water and oil don't mix. Lithography is unlike intaglio printing which prints ink trapped in valleys and holes and relief printing which prints ink resting on hills, or crests. Lithothograph printing is done from an even, or level plane. Lithography (a planographic printing process), was invented by Alois Senefelder of Bavaria, in 1796. The drawing is printed from a special lime stone. Stone is first prepared by grinding the surface of the litho stone with a tool known as a levegator. Different grades of carborundum, mixed with water, are used during the grinding process. After grinding with each grade of carborundum the previous grade is washed off with water before putting the next grade on. One starts out with a coarse carborundum first, then a medium and a fine carborundum is used last.

The next step is known as graining the stone. A litho stone slightly smaller than the stone used for the drawing is used for this process. A medium, or fine grain carborundum is placed on the surface of the first lithograph stone then the graining litho stone is placed on top and is turned, slid and rocked back and forth until an even textured grain is produced on the surface of the stone underneath.

The stone is washed with water and is now ready for the drawing done with grease in the form of tusche liquid or crayon.

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Revised: January 07, 1998.
Copyright © 1996 by Visual Arts Illustrated.
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