GRAPHIC ARTS

relief printing process

Technique that consists of creating a raised figure on a piece of wood.

equipment
Collective term for the materials, instruments and tools knife
used for engraving and printing. Tool used for engraving in the grain
direction of the wood; it brings out the figure
by means of incisions.

block cutter
Chisel with a beveled point used in
engraving to achieve subtleties of line; it was
once used on copper but is now used mainly
on wood.

brayer
Instrument used to spread ink on a raised U-shaped gouge
figure. Sharp U-shaped chisel used to remove areas
to create large blank spaces.

V-shaped gouge
Sharp V-shaped chisel used to dig deep
angular grooves and to remove areas to
create smaller blank spaces.

chisel
Sharp tool with a flat beveled blade used for
baren engraving wood in the grain direction; it
Instrument that exerts pressure on the removes areas to create blank space around
back of the paper to help the ink the figure and smoothes out the background.
adhere.

ink
Preparation in black or in color used
inking slab for printing.
Plate on which the ink is spread so it will be evenly
distributed on the brayer.

ink
Preparation in black or in color used
for printing.

mallet
spatula Hammer used to strike the heel of a sharp
Tool with a flat flexible blade used to tool to drive it into wood.
spread ink or scrape down the inking
slab.

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 GRAPHIC ARTS
relief printing process
proof press
Fixed-bed printing press with a cylinder that is
moved along an engraved and inked board
covered with a sheet of paper.

counterpressure cylinder
Roller that is moved manually to apply sufficient pressure to
print the figure.
gripper
Each of the metal pieces mounted on a
strip that holds the paper in position
under the cylinder.

paper sheet
Sheet on which the raised figure is printed. lever
Device that is pushed down to lift the
strip that leads the grippers.

packing
Material (felt, cardboard, plastic)
covering the paper sheet to provide
greater cylinder pressure.

rail
Each of the straight rails along which the
counterpressure cylinder moves.
press bed
Plate on which the engraved and inked
board rests, with the paper sheet on
top.

woodcut
wood engraving
Technique of engraving a piece of
Technique of engraving a piece of wood against the
wood in the same direction as the
grain.
grain.

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