Fine Art: Printing

Section: Basics of Fine Art Printing

Fine Art Printing is a term that covers many processes artists use to create multiple original works of art.
Printing spans different techniques from relief to intaglio, lithography, and screenprinting.
The prints are created using a matrix, a physical object that carries the image to be printed.
The process of printing involves transferring the image from the matrix to a sheet of paper or other material.

Relief Printing involves carving a design into a flat surface, then applying ink to the raised areas for printing.
Intaglio Printing includes techniques like engraving and etching, where the image is incised into a surface, and the incised line or sunken area holds the ink.
Lithography uses the principle that water and oil do not mix; it’s drawn on stone with oil, grease, or wax, then inked and printed.
Screenprinting, also known as silkscreen or serigraphy, involves creating a stencil and forcing ink through the stencil onto the print surface.

Colour in printing is created by layering different prints in different colours on top of each other, often through separate stencils or plates.
The texture of a print can be affected by the choice of printing surface, the thickness and type of ink, and the printing process used.
The shape and size of the print is determined by the matrix used, but also by the size of the paper or surface on which it’s printed.

Monoprinting and monotyping are printmaking methods that create unique, one-off prints.
Digital or giclée printing allows the replication of digital artworks onto paper and other substrates with excellent colour accuracy.
Aquatint and mezzotint are intaglio methods that allow for a wide range of tonal values in prints.

When evaluating a print, consider the clarity of the image, the richness and accuracy of the colours, and the care with which the print has been made and finalised.
Consider the diversity of the techniques used, the texture and quality of the paper, and the correct application of the inking and pressing process.
A critical discussion of the subject matter, style, and techniques used in a print can lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the artwork.