Mezzotint plates are roughened to print completely black except where burnished smooth. For all intaglio prints, the recessed areas of the plate are filled with ink and the surface is wiped clean. The paper is dampened so that the printing press will force it into the depressions to pick up the ink. Screen printing Screen printing uses silk or other fabric stretched tightly over a frame. Images are created by blocking parts of the screen with stencils created by hand-drawn or photographic techniques.
Ink is forced through the open areas of the screen onto paper or fabric.
Lithography Lithography is a process based on the chemical principle that oil and water do not mix. Images are drawn on limestone or metal plates with crayons and inks which contain wax or oil. The stone or plate is wet before each inking with a roller, so the oil-base ink will adhere only to the image areas. Paper is pressed against the surface with a bar or roller press. Computer prints Computer Prints take advantage of innovative new technology including laser and inkjet printers.