Printmaking: English Vocabulary List

a photographic printing process that uses a gelatin-coated plate to produce high-quality prints with a wide tonal range and a delicate, velvety texture

"Collotype prints continuous tones."

"Collotype is a high quality photomechanical printing process that produces continuous tones without halftone dots."

the process of producing printed materials, such as documents, graphics, or photographs, using a computer and a printer

"Computer printing outputs digital files."

"Computer printing produces images from digital files using inkjet or laser printers for home or office use."

a printing process that uses heat to transfer dye onto a substrate, such as paper or fabric, producing high-quality, long-lasting prints with vibrant colors and fine details

"Dye-sublimation prints on fabric."

"Dye sublimation prints on fabric using heat transfer where dye becomes gas and bonds with polyester fibers."

a high-quality digital printing process that uses specialized inkjet printers and archival quality inks to create fine art prints with exceptional color accuracy, clarity, and longevity

"Giclee is high-end inkjet print."

"Giclee is a high end inkjet print on fine art paper with archival inks for museum quality reproductions."

a digital printing process that uses small droplets of ink to produce high-quality, full-color prints on a variety of materials, including paper, fabric, and plastic

"Inkjet printing sprays tiny droplets."

"Inkjet printing sprays tiny droplets of ink onto paper for high quality color prints at home."

a digital printing process that uses a laser beam to transfer toner onto a substrate, typically paper, producing high-quality, fast, and precise prints

"Laser printing uses toner powder."

"Laser printing uses toner powder fused with heat for fast high quality black and white or color prints."

a digital printing process that uses solid sticks or blocks of ink that are melted and applied to a substrate, such as paper or fabric, producing high-quality, vibrant prints with sharp details and minimal waste

"Solid ink melts onto paper."

"Solid ink printing uses solid wax sticks that melt into liquid then solidify on paper for vibrant colors."

a digital printing process that uses heat to transfer ink or dye onto a substrate, typically paper or labels, producing high-quality, durable prints

"Thermal printing uses heat."

"Thermal printing uses heat to transfer images onto special paper without ink commonly used for receipt printers."

a printing technique in which the image is carved into the printing plate and the carved part holds the ink

"Intaglio prints from incised lines."

"Intaglio prints from incised lines below the plate surface where ink is wiped from the surface and remains in grooves."

a type of printing process that uses a raised plate with characters to transfer ink to paper

"Letterpress uses raised type."

"Letterpress prints from raised type or plates pressing paper into the inked surface for embossed text."

a type of relief printing process that uses a sheet of linoleum with a design cut into it to transfer ink to paper

"Linocut carves linoleum block."

"Linocut carves a design into linoleum for relief printing where raised areas print and carved areas stay white."

a type of printing process that uses a flat stone or metal plate with a design etched into it to transfer ink to paper

"Lithography prints images from a flat stone."

"Lithography is a printing method that uses a flat stone or metal plate to transfer ink onto paper."

a type of printing process that uses a metal or plastic plate with a design etched into it to transfer ink to paper

"Monotype prints unique impressions."

"Monotype creates unique prints that cannot be repeated exactly because ink is painted onto a smooth plate by hand."

a type of printing process where inked images are transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket and then to paper, creating sharp and clear prints

"Offset printing uses rubber blanket."

"Offset printing transfers ink from a plate to a rubber blanket then to paper for high volume commercial printing."

a printing method where the image and non-image areas are on the same flat surface, and ink only sticks to the parts meant to be printed

"Planographic prints from flat surface."

"Planographic printing prints from a flat surface without raised or incised lines using the repulsion of oil and water."

a type of printing machine that uses a flat metal plate with a design etched into it to transfer ink to paper

"Printing press transfers ink to paper."

"The printing press transfers ink from a plate onto paper for mass production of books and newspapers."

a printing technique in which an image is carved in relief on a printing block, such as wood or linoleum, and ink is applied to the raised surface of the block before it is pressed onto paper or another substrate

"Relief printing prints from raised surface."

"Relief printing prints from the raised areas of a block where ink is applied to the surface not the grooves."

a printmaking technique that involves carving a metal plate, typically copper or zinc, with a chisel or graver to create an image

"Metalcut uses carved metal plate."

"The artist created a striking image using the metalcut technique, carving directly into the copper plate."

the process of creating designs on a metal plate by cutting or using acid, and producing prints from it

"The artist made a beautiful etching of a boat on the sea."

"An etching is an intaglio printmaking technique where acid is used to incise a design into a metal plate"

a relief printing technique that involves carving a design into the end-grain of a block of wood, typically boxwood, using specialized engraving tools

"Wood engraving uses end-grain wood."

"Wood engraving uses the end grain of wood for fine detail with hard boxwood blocks."

a relief printing technique that involves carving a design into a block of wood, inking the surface, and then printing the image onto paper or another substrate

"Woodcut prints from wood."

"Woodcut carves the side grain of a wood block with a knife leaving raised areas to print."

the technique of putting a design or pattern of ink or metal on a surface through a screen of silk or fine material

"Screen printing uses a screen."

"Screen printing pushes ink through a mesh stencil using a squeegee for bold colors on fabric or paper."

a technique used in printmaking that involves the use of a carved wooden block to create a design or pattern on paper or fabric

"Woodblock printing uses carved wood."

"Woodblock printing is an ancient Asian relief printing method used for texts and images on paper."

a printing process that involves engraving an image onto a ceramic plate, which is then inked and printed onto paper or another substrate

"Cerography uses ceramic plates."

"Cerography is a lesser-known printing process that involves engraving designs onto a ceramic plate before inking and printing."

a printmaking technique in which dots of ink are applied in patterns to create tones, textures and images

"Pointille uses ink dots."

"Pointille is an engraving technique using tiny dots to build up tones and textures in a print."

an intaglio printing technique that involves roughening a metal plate with a special tool called a rocker to create a textured surface that can hold ink

"Mezzotint roughens metal plates."

"Mezzotint creates soft tonal gradations by roughening a metal plate then smoothing areas to create lighter tones."

an etching technique that involves creating a tonal range on a metal plate by exposing it to an acid-resistant resin that is then heated

"Aquatint uses acid-resistant resin."

"Aquatint creates tonal areas resembling ink washes by fusing resin powder to a plate before etching."

an intaglio printing technique that involves scratching an image directly onto a metal plate, typically copper, using a pointed tool

"Drypoint scratches metal plates."

"Drypoint scratches directly into a metal plate without acid creating a soft fuzzy line from the raised burr."

a modern printing method that involves transferring digital images or text directly onto paper or other materials using a computer and a printer

"Digital printing uses computers."

"Digital printing produces images directly from digital files without traditional printing plates for short runs."

a printing process that involves transferring ink from a master copy onto a gelatin pad, which can then be used to produce multiple copies of the original image or text using a press or by hand rubbing

"Hectograph uses gelatin pads."

"Hectograph is a gelatin based copying method for small print runs used before photocopiers were available."