Fine Art: Printing

Gain a familiarisation with the four main types of printmaking: relief, intaglio, lithography, and screen printing.
Explore woodcut, a type of relief printmaking, and understand how designs are carved into a wooden surface.
Grasp the concept of intaglio printmaking, a method where the image is incised into a surface.
Understand the process of lithography, a technique where a design is drawn onto a stone or plate with a greasy substance.
Comprehend the basics of screen printing, which pushes ink through a woven mesh stencil onto a surface.

Learn the usage of printing ink, paying attention to its formulation for different techniques.
Familiarise with rollers or brayers used to spread the ink evenly before printmaking.
Acknowledge the importance of quality paper selection, which can influence the final appearance of the print.
Delve into the use of burnishing tools, and their role in transferring the ink to the paper.
Master handling of the printing press, a key apparatus in techniques such as intaglio and lithography.

Develop skills to create monoprints, a type of printmaking that creates a unique, non-reproducible print.
Adequate comprehension of registering, which ensures the correct alignment of multiple colour overlays.
Solidify knowledge on proofing processes prior to the final run to ensure quality print results.
Gain proficiency in achieving the desired texture and tonal effects in print through varied techniques.
Understand the clean-up process post printing to maintain tools’ longevity and for safety purposes.

Recognise the importance of designing and planning the matrix (printing surface) with the final print in mind.
Appreciate the significance of ink application, understanding the different effects of thick or thin applications.
Grasp the process of printing the artwork; such as transferring the image from matrix to paper.
Comprehend the steps required for drying and curing the print to prevent smudging or ink transfer.
Understand the principle of editioning prints, where multiples of the same image are printed and signed.

Explore Printmaking in History to understand how it developed and why it was important in periods such as the Renaissance.
Study Famous Printmakers to appreciate their contribution to the field. Artists like Albrecht Dürer, Katsushika Hokusai, and Andy Warhol have had a profound impact on printmaking.
Develop an appreciation for the multicultural contexts in which different printmaking techniques have been developed; for instance, ukiyo-e in Japan and Métis beadwork in Canada.