The Invention of Lithography

The Invention of Lithography

Printing from stone is a branch of a new process, different in fundamental principle from all others, namely, the chemical process. Heretofore there have been two leading printing processes for manifolding writings and drawings, one working with characters in relief, the other with sunken characters. Of the first kind is the ordinary book-printing, in which the characters are made of metal or wood in such form that only those lines and points are elevated that are to take color, everything else being depressed. The wooden forms for cotton-printing are made thus also. Of the second kind are all copper and zinc plates, and the cotton-print process with copper plates or cylinders. In this method the lines and points to be printed are depressed, being either engraved, etched, or stamped. As is well known, the first method of printing is as follows: The letters, which are all at the same elevation and, therefore, furnish a plane surface, are inked with a leather ball, stuffed with horsehair. As the ball is so firm and elastic that it can touch only the elevated parts, these alone can take the color, which adheres because of its sticky nature. The same is true of the carved wood used in cotton-printing, with only the difference that, instead of rubbing with a leather ball, the wooden plate itself is laid on a cushion covered with the color, and then, being placed face down on the cloth, is hammered gently to produce the imprint. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 40924
Author: Senefelder, Alois
Release Date: Oct 3, 2012
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Translator: Muller, J. W. (Julius Washington), 1867-1930