Lithography

Lithography is based on the simple principle that grease and water do not mix.

A design is drawn onto a sensitised zinc or aluminium plaste using greasy materials and the non printing area is treated with water-based materials to keep them clean. The image is removed with white spirit leaving the greasy marks which can then be rolled up with an oil based printing ink.

The ink adheres to the greased areas only.

The image is transferred from the plate onto the roller of an offset press and then onto the paper. The paper is then cleaned and re-sensitised and the whole process is repeated for each colour to enable the artist to gradually build the image using texture and over printing.

Litho prints usually have very small editions due to the long process and can vary slightly in depth of colour.