The Art Business — Reproduction & Printing Definitions

Myron Arndt

DEFINITIONS

Artist Proof: Also known as A/P. Prints outside the regular edition that are equal in quality to the edition and signed by the artist as an Artist Proof or A/P. They are traditionally retained by the artist and usually limited to no more than 10% of the edition. Originally, artist proofs were the first prints pulled by the artist to “proof ” or approve the stone, plate or printing medium before printing the full edition.

Canvas Print: A reproduction that is printed directly onto canvas. Recently, large format ink-jet printers have been able to provide reproductions directly on canvas.

Canvas Transfer: A reproduction that has been adhered to canvas using a lamination, chemical or heat transfer method.

Chop: Also called a “dry stamp” or “seal”. This mark impressed on a print by the artist, publisher or studio is used to identify authentic prints.

Collograph: A print that is created by building up the surface using media such as glue, mat board, cloth, sand etc. It is then inked by hand and printed on an intaglio press.

Deckle: The natural rough edge on a sheet of paper. In hand made paper, it is the frame that holds the wire mesh and limits the size of the paper.

Digital Print: A print produced by digitally capturing an image and reproducing it using any type of digital output device including copiers, toner based digital printers, digital offset printers, ink-jet, sublimation, thermal printers and more.

Documentation: A certificate of authenticity identifying the process, techniques and materials used to create a limited edition print. It also specifies the number of prints created including artist proofs, remarques etc. Usually signed by the artist, publisher, printer etc.

Edition: The copies of a reproduction that are signed and numbered by the artist as in 50/150.

Embossed Print: Also called “blind embossing” or “inkless intaglio”. A process using an intaglio press to raise an image in a paper surface to produce a 3-dimensional effect.

Engraving: The image is scratched into a plate which is then inked and printed like an etching.

Etching: Intaglio printing technique that uses a resist liquid or ground to cover a metal plate. An image is drawn into the ground, exposing the metal that is then eaten away in an acid bath. The portion eaten away leaves an “etched” or depressed line in the plate. Ink is then applied into the depression and paper applied over the ink by using an intaglio or etching press.

Giclee: A computer generated continuous tone reproduction made with ink-jet printer. It may include some hand work by the artist. The word “Giclee” is French and literally means to “spray onto paper”. Although generally associated with limited edition works on paper or canvas, the process is the same as that used for ink-jet posters or open-edition prints.

Intaglio: A printing method that presses damp paper into a depression in a plate that is filled with ink, lifting the ink onto the paper. It employs such techniques as etching, mezzotint, and engraving.

Light Fastness: The ability of a pigment to resist changing colour by fading when exposed to light.

Limited Edition Print: A reproduction which is signed and numbered by the artist in a pre-determined quantity, after which no further reproductions are made. Usually accompanied by documentation giving information as to the quantity etc.

Linocut: Similar to a woodcut—substituting linoleum for the block of wood.

Lithography: Printing technique in which image areas on a lithographic plate or stone are chemically treated to accept ink and repel water, while non-image areas repel ink and retain water. Because the printing surface is flat, lithography is sometimes referred to as a “piano-graphic technique”. (See also Offset Lithograph)

Mono-print: Sometimes used interchangeably with “monotype”, it usually has a common image matrix inked differently each time. (See Monotype)

Monotype: A painting on a metal, plastic or glass plate printed as an edition of one on an intaglio or litho press.

Offset Printing: Lithographic printing that transfers ink from a plate to a rubber blanket and then the paper.

Offset Lithograph: Lithograph made from an offset press. Often referred to as a photo-mechanical offset reproduction. The original painting is photographed, scanned and separated into 4 colours for printing on an offset press.

Open Edition Print: A reproduction without a limited number of prints. May be reproduced multiple times over and is not usually signed by the Artist.

Original Lithograph: A printing process similar to a stone lithograph, but the image is drawn on an aluminum plate or molar, which is then transferred to a plate.

Original Print: Also called a “Limited Edition Graphic”, this is a print produced by any number of methods including lithography, intaglio and serigraphy. The artist is usually also the printer although in many cases the artist overseas and approves the work of a master printer or technician.

Poster: Usually an offset lithographic reproduction often with type on or around the image. A poster is usually used to advertise an artist, event or product and has evolved into an art form in its own right.

Printer’s Proof: The first prints outside of an edition of an original print that are traditionally used by the master printer or artist to proof the edition and are usually retained by the printer.

Rag Paper: Paper made of 100% cotton and containing no wood pulp. This insures that the paper will not deteriorate like paper containing wood fibre.

Relief Printing: Printing in which the ink is applied to the raised surface of a plate or block where the non-printing area has been removed as with woodcuts or linoleum cuts.

Remarque: A small drawing, painting or sketch added to the border or image of a print by the artists. An artist usually only remarques a small number of prints (inside or outside the edition) and as such they can often have more value than a regular print in the edition.

Reproduction: Any copy of an original image. This term is usually used to refer to multiples created from a painting by photo-mechanical offset lithography. However, it can refer to any copy made of an original in any form.

Serigraph: A print produced through serigraphy or silk screening.

Serigraphy: Also called “silk screen printing”, the process involves creating a stencil either by hand cutting or photo-mechanically and then transferring that stencil to a mesh screen. The non-printing areas are blocked out and ink is pressed through the screen onto paper by using a squeegee to create a print. The original mesh screens were made of silk but modern materials include polyester, nylon and other fabric blends.

Silk Screen: Also called a serigraph. See serigraph and serigraphy above.

Stone Lithograph: A print made from an image drawn on a limestone slab using a greasy substance. The stone is chemically treated to accept water then inked with a roller and pressed against the paper to create a print.

Substrate: The material on which an image is printed.

Woodcut: An image created by carving a negative image into a block of wood. The surface is inked with a brayer and printing is done on an intaglio press.