1. Task 7:
The Print
Industry

2. Technique Method Advantages Disadvantages Example
Etching Etching is the process of using
strong acid to cut into parts of a metal
surface to create a design.
-many can be etched at once
-can be very compact
-all etchings will be identical
-time consuming
Linocut Using a sharp knife or a V-shaped
chisel, a design is cut into the surface.
The sheet is then inked with a roller
and pressed onto paper or fabric.
-sturdy
-easy for simple designs
-mistakes are irreversible
-time consuming
-limited colour application
-long time to dry
Screen print A screen is made from a fine mesh
material fixed to a wooden frame and
a stencil is placed under the screen.
Ink is then forced through the stencil
onto the material below.
-quicker process
-larger designs
-sturdy and tough
-time consuming
-financially impractical
Woodcut Woodcut printing is an artistic
technique in printmaking. An image is
carved into the surface of a block
of wood with the printing parts
remaining level with the surface while
the non-printing parts are removed.
-cheap materials and production
costs
-robust quality
-time consuming
Lithography Lithography machines can print on
both sides of paper/card. They rely on
four basic colours; yellow, cyan,
magenta and black.
-fast
-cheap
-clear images produced
-can’t produce high quality prints
-equipment is complicated
HAND

3. MECHANICAL
Technique Method Advantages Disadvantages Example
Letterpress During letterpress printing, the parts
to be printed are raised up from the
base plate. Letterpress printing can be
used to produce both type and
illustrations. It is used for small
printing jobs such as business cards
and stationery.
-straight forward process
-sharp images
-any type of paper can be used
-time consuming
-range of fonts is limited
Gravure In gravure printing, the image is made
up of small holes sunk in the surface
of the printing plate and these holes
are filled with ink. Paper comes into
contact with the ink in the holes when
it is pressed against the plate.
-high quality
-large range of colours
-high cost
-time consuming
Screen Process Silk screen printing is a form of stencil
printing. The ink is applied to the back
of the image carrier and pushed
through open areas. The nonprinting
areas on the silk screen are blocked
out, and the ink is pushed through the
open areas corresponding to the
design.
-can be used on glass, plastics and
textures surfaces
-durability
-images can be scaled upwards
-limited colour mixing
-multi-step process
-limited resolution

4. DIGITAL
Technique Method Advantages Disadvantages Example
Photocopying Photocopiers can enlarge and reduce
images and process paper and card.
Different paper sizes can be used.
-gives good results -copies are expensive
Laser Printing A Laser writes an electrical
representation on it of the image that
will be printed. Toner is applied to the
areas that were written by the Laser
and then heat and pressure rollers
melt the Tonerparticles into
the Paper.
-fast
-high accuracy
-expensive
Inkjet An inkjet printer places extremely
small droplets of ink onto paper to
create an image.
-one of the lowest costing printing
devices on the market
-high quality
-quick
-cartridge costs can exceed the cost
of the actual printer
-often prints can smudge if they are
touched too quickly
Desktop Publishing This is using a personal computer
or workstation to produce high-quality
printed documents. It allows you to
use and place different typefaces,
margins , illustrations and graphs
directly into the text.
-easy to use
-multiple available templates
-slow installation
-not very precise layouts

5. MORE EXAMPLES…
Etching- work done through etching by Rembrandt.

6. Linocut- Linocut bar by Carl Eugen Keel

7. Screenprint- ‘The Flood’ by Adi Holzer

8. Woodcut- a woodcut by Rudyard Kippling

9. Lithography- a self portrait by Edvard Munch

10. Letterpress- a letterpress by Gemma Corell

11. Gravure- a gravure portrait of Charles Darwin