Understand print-based media production techniques and

technology

Hand etching Hand etching is a technique where by the user etches (Cuts) into

substances such as Marble of Granite in order to create artistic pictures.

Hand etching is particularly useful in creating original artistic scenes and designs.

Etching can also have colorized styles were by artists use specially designed stone dyes in order to help give their designs an added edge of detail or texture.

Etching is normally used for most art purposes but is also used for a widerrange of products such as producing plaques,Insignias, portraits, sketches and pictures. One of the main problems however concerning This process is that it is very time consuming and often takes up a large period of time to engrave And produce such a product.

LinocutThis is a technique used for print making. The technique is

done by cutting into the linoleum surface with a sharp knife and engraving or chipping the desired texture or picture on the linoleum surface.

Linoleum is often used because it does not tend to split due to it surface grains, which allows for artists to obtain certain artistic effects more easily.

Like Hand etching, this process would often be used for most art purposes as well as producing plaques and insignias. However this process is also very time Consuming also and like, Hand etching can take A lengthy period of time to produce art work orProducts of sufficient quality.

Screen printScreen printing is a technique where an ink-

blocking stencil is printed onto a woven mesh. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh where ink or other printable materials can be pressed through the mesh as a sharp-edged image onto a substrate. A roller or squeegee is moved across the screen stencil, forcing or pumping ink past the threads of the woven mesh in the open areas.

LithographyLithography is a form of printing where by an

image is printed out onto a smooth stone surface. This method is normally used in order to print either text or artwork onto suitable surfaces such as paper.

Lithography is done by laying out an image or artwork onto a smooth surface using wax or any other substance which has oily components. Once applied, paper is pressed on top which then allows the ink or oil to be transferred to the printed sheet.

Screen process printingThis method of printing involves the use of a

woven mesh which supports an ink blocked stencil. Using this tool a design is imposed on a screen of silk or other fine mesh in order to make up an image, pattern or desired texture for the mesh. Ink is forced or pressed into the mesh which makes the design permanent and longer lasting.

LetterpressLetterpress is a printing technique where by a

type high bed is used to press a reversed inked surface onto a series of sheets of paper. This technique allows one to make many copies of one image or text and also obtain a quality of high standard copies.

Methods of printing using this technique were used very often, particularly in the 20th century for high speed work and printing for things such as books.

Lithography, process printing, hand etching, or letterpress were the simplest forms of producing print based media at the time but now we use mostly forms of digital printing to produce much of our work. The advantage of using this method is that no printing plates are necessary to be used resulting in a quicker and less expensive printed form of media. The most popular methods include inkjet or laser printers that deposit certain amounts of ink onto a wide variety of substrates including paper which is normally the most common surface used for this type of printing.

Digital photography/PrintingDigital printing is a method of printing which

refers to the methods of using a digital based image to print directly to any variety of media. Much of the work using this method consists of printed using large format and high volume inkjet printers. Although this method I able to produce much more sufficient and detailed pieces of media it has a much higher cost than that of ordinary home printing.

Laser printingLaser printing is a digital form of printing using a

highly focused beam of light which is projected onto a piece of paper which allows ink to be transferred onto it. The laser printer uses data sent from a computer to turn a laser beam on and off rapidly as it scans a charged drum inside it. The drum then attracts toner powder to the areas not exposed to the light. Finally, the toner is fused to paper over a belt by heated rollers. The picture is then finally produced and printed out.

Inkjet printingInkjet printing is a method of digital printing that

involves putting variable-sized droplets of ink on to paper to create a picture. A high-pressure pump is used which directs liquid ink from a reservoir through a microscopic nozzle, creating a continuous stream of ink droplets. The stream of liquid is broken down into droplets at regular intervals which are individually spread across the printed surface to form a picture. Only a small percentage of the droplets are used to print while the rest become recycled.

PhotocopyingPhotocopying is a form of making multiple copies of

media documents and other visual images quickly and cheaply. They use a technology called xerography which is a dry process using heat. The process starts with the cylindrical drum inside the copier being charged by a high voltage which makes it negatively charged. A bright lamp illuminates the original document, and the white areas of the original document reflect the light onto the surface of the drum. The ink is positively charged and when it is applied to the drum to develop the image, it is attracted and sticks to the areas that are negatively charged. The resulting image on the surface of the drum is transferred from the drum onto a piece of paper. The ink is then finally melted and bonded to the paper by heat and pressure rollers.