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Lithograph

Lithograph
Lithograph
Lithograph
About the image medium
Name
Lithograph
Notes
Lithography is a technique of surface printing from stone or a prepared plate and is based on the antipathy of grease and water. A design is drawn with greasy crayon or ink on the smooth surface of a slab of special limestone, called the lithographic stone, which is then prepared by the printer with chemical material that will fix the design to the stone. Water is applied, repelled by the greasy lines, but absorbed by the untouched areas of the stone. A roller is used to apply ink to the surface, which adheres to the drawn lines, but is repelled by the rest of the damp surface. A sheet of paper is placed on the stone, which is then passed through the lithographic press, thus transferring the design, in reverse, to the sheet of paper. In principle very large numbers may be printed of similar quality. The more modern method involves the use of a prepared metal plate rather than stone.
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