Printmaking Processes: Lithography

Lithography works on the principle that grease and water repel each other. There is no carving involved. The artist draws on a stone with a greasy crayon and then covers the stone with a thin film of water. the oily ink will stick to the greasy image but not to the water-covered areas.

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[garvam]

now that dosn't look simple...wow

[ToffeeTornado]

ohmygod this video has just made my art assignment on maurits escher's "print gallery" ten times harder. how am i supposed to explain this complicated process in 14 lines?

[2manysecrets2]

Good for you...It really is all very fascinating. People simply do not realize all that is involved.

In this modern day of reproductions, everyone thinks "oh, it is just another type of reproduction.."

It is all really an artform unto itself. It really is.

Ive studied etching and it really is all very difficult..right amount of ink, amounts of chemicals, each stage done correctly, etc etc ALL make such a difference.

As always it is one thing to know it, another to DO it.

[2manysecrets2]

@ToffeeTornado

Haiku?

;)

[TheDaedalEVE]

Wow.... that is a LOT of work. If it was me though, I'd design in the computer, and use some sort CNC milling machine to just machine the stone and be done with it.

You get the same outcome (authentic litho print from a stone), but it would be 100% accurate to the original work.

[GoldHelicoprion]

I just had my first day of Intro to Litho this morning and I am so in love! Thanks for the video, I couldn't help but watch it and geek out - so excited to make a print.

[LiquidRelief]

nice, need this for examination tomorrow :D

[beautifulbutterfly82]

@garvam Interesting the grain is still important on todays litho plates, if the plates are old or used heavily the grain can go causing an unstable print due to the water /ink imbalance where you end up struggling to keep the level of damp down so not to weaken colour and emulsify the inkers while trying to prevent the image area catching up (when the non image area starts to take ink). Hence good printers were paid handsomely. It simply works on the principle that oil and water do not mix.

[SkippiVarndenkof]

@52goodartist77 That's a bit of a creepy, sort of obsession... You see I prefer to love other humans, like normal people.

[TheSymonDe]

@garvam In fact, it's more more complex than what you see in this. I used to do it at University. The whole process of what you see here in 5 mins would take up to 4 hours and more if you do one than more stone and how complex is your image. BUT, even if complex this Technique is transparent and keep grayscale which make more complex images at the end than Silkscreen would in one print.

[52goodartist77]

Lithography is not about work, it is about love. Complexity does not negate spontaneity. Because the PROCESS is as important to a lithographer as the OUTCOME, the WORK becomes an act of love, not a "one night stand". People who want fast outcomes should stick to digital media.Those of us who want to identify, understand, and become part of our wonderful history of art, will take that second step to be part of its beauty. I do lithography, etching, or black and white photography w/ respect.

[ImBoyCryWolf]

I wanted to do a pastiche on Alphonse Mucha until I saw how Lithography actually works...I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD DO ANYTHING THIS WAY.